.;,-;- 

V  •  3 

THE    PILOT: 


BY      J.      FENIMORE      COOPER 


"Ltat!  ye" Landsmen,  all  to  me" 


COMPLETE  IN   ONE    VOL  U M S. 


NEW    EDITION. 


NEW    YORK: 
STRINGER       AND      ToWNSEND 


THE  PILOT. 


Southern  District  of  New  York,  ss. 

BB  IT  REMEMBERED,  that  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  December,  in  the 
forty -eighth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  CHAKLES 
WILEY,  of  the  said  district,  hath  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the 
right  whereof  he  claims  as  proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"THE  PILOT:  a  Tale  of  the  Sea.    By  the  Author  of  The  Pioneers,  &c.,  &c. 

'  List !  ye  Landsmen,  all  to  me.'    In  two  volumes." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled,  "  An  Act 
for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and 
Books  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies,  during -the  time  therein 
mentioned ;"  and  also  to  an  Act,  entitled,  "  An  Act  supplementary  to  an  Act, 
entitled,  An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  ot 
Maps,  Charts,  and  Books  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies,  during 
the  times  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  Arts  of 
Designing,  Engraving,  and  Etching  Historical  and  other  Prints." 

JAMES  DILL, 
Cleric  of  the  Southern  District  of  Ne^t  T^orTc. 


WILLIAM  BRANFORD  SHUBRICK,n  /£  A 

ESQUIRE, 


MASTER  COM.  U.  S.  NAVY. 


MY    DEAR    SHUBRICK, 

Each  year  causes  some  new  and  melan 
choly  chasm  in  what  is  now  the  brief  list  of 
my  naval  friends  and  former  associates. — 
War,  disease,  and  the  casualties  of  a  ha 
zardous  profession,  have  made  fearful  in 
roads  in  the  limited  number ;  while  the 
places  of  the  dead  are  supplied  by  names 
that  to  me  are  strangers.  With  the  conse 
quences  of  these  sad  changes  before  me,  I 
cherish  the  recollection  of  those  with  whom 


4  DEDICATION. 

I  once  lived  in  close  familiarity  with  pecu 
liar  interest,  and  feel  a  triumph  in  their 
growing  reputations,  that  is  but  little  short 
of  their  own  honest  pride. 

But  neither  time  nor  separation  have 
shaken  our  intimacy :  and  I  know  that  in 
dedicating  to  you  these  volumes,  I  tell  you 
nothing  new,  when  I  add,  that  it  is  a  tribute 
paid  to  an  enduring  friendship,  by 
Your  old  messmate, 

THE   AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


The  privileges  of  the  Historian  and  of  the  wri 
ter  of  Romances  are  very  different,  and  it  be 
hooves  them  equally  to  respect  each  other's  rights. 
The  latter  is  permitted  to  garnish  a  probable  fic 
tion,  while  he  is  sternly  prohibited  from  dwelling 
on  improbable  truths ;  but  it  is  the  duty  of  the  for 
mer  to  record  facts  as  they  have  occurred,  with 
out  a  reference  to  consequences,  resting  his  repu 
tation  on  a  firm  foundation  of  realities,  and  vindi 
cating  his  integrity  by  his  authorities.  How  far 
and  how  well  the  Author  has  adhered  to  this  dis 
tinction  between  the  prerogatives  of  truth  and  fic 
tion,  his  readers  must  decide  ;  but  he  cannot  for 
bear  desiring  the  curious  inquirers  into  our  annals 
to  persevere,  until  they  shall  find  good  poetical 
authority  for  every  material  incident  in  this  veri 
table  legend. 

As  to  the  Critics,  he  has  the  advantage  of  in 
eluding  them  all  in  that  extensive  class,  which  is 
known  by  the  sweeping  appellation  of  "  Lubbers." 
If  they  have  common  discretion,  they  will  beware 
of  exposing  their  ignorance. 


b  PREFACE. 

If,  however,  some  old  seaman  should  happen  to 
detect  any  trifling  anachronisms  in  marine  usages, 
or  mechanical  improvements,  the  Author  begs 
leave  to  say  to  him,  with  a  proper  deference  for 
his  experience,  that  it  was  not  so  much  his  inten 
tion  to  describe  the  customs  of  a  particular  age,  as 
to  paint  those  scenes  which  belong  only  to  the 
ocean,  and  to  exhibit,  in  his  imperfect  manner,  a 
few  traits  of  a  people,  who,  from  the  nature  of 
things,  can  never  be  much  known. 

He  will  probably  be  told,  that  Smollet  has 
done  all  this  before  him,  and  in  a  much  better  man 
ner.  It  will  be  seen,  however,  that,  though  he 
has  navigated  the  same  sea  as  Smollet,  he  has 
steered  a  different  course ;  or,  in  other  words, 
that  he  has  considered  what  Smollet  has  paint 
ed  as  a  picture  which  is  finished,  and  which  is 
not  to  be  daubed  over  by  every  one  who  may 
choose  to  handle  a  pencil  on  marine  subjects. 

The  Author  wishes  to  express  his  regret,  that 
the  daring  and  useful  services  of  a  great  portion 
of  our  marine  in  the  old  war  should  be  suffered  to 
remain  in  the  obscurity  under  which  it  is  now  bu 
ried.  Every  one  has  heard  of  the  victory  of  the 
Bon-Homme  Richard,  but  how  little  is  known  of 
the  rest  of  the  life,  and  of  the  important  services 
of  the  remarkable  man  who  commanded  in  our 
behalf,  in  that  memorable  combat.  How  little  is 
known  of  his  actions  with  the  Milford  and  the 
Solebay ;  of  his  captures  of  the  Drake  and  Tri- 


PREFACE.  7 

umph  ;  and  of  his  repeated  and  desperate  projects 
to  carry  the  war  into  the  c  island  home'  of  our 
powerful  enemy.  Very  many  of  the  officers  who 
served  in  that  contest  were  to  be  found,  after 
wards,  in  the  navy  of  the  confederation  ;  and  it  is 
fair  to  presume  that  it  owes  no  small  part  of  its 
present  character  to  the  spirit  that  descended  from 
the  heroes  of  the  revolution. 

One  of  the  last  officers  reared  in  that  schoo* 
died,  not  long  since,  at  the  head  of  his  profession ; 
and  now,  that  nothing  but  the  recollection  of  their 
deeds  remains,  we  should  become  more  tenacious 
of  their  glory. 

If  his  book  has  the  least  tendency  to  excite 
some  attention  to  this  interesting  portion  of  our 
history,  one  of  the  objects  of  the  writer  will  be 
accomplished. 

The  Author  now  takes  his  leave  of  his  readers, 
wishing  them  all  happiness. 


THE  PILOT. 


CHAPTER  I. 


"  Sullen  waves,  incessant  rolling 
Rudely  dash  against  her  sides." 

Song, 


A  SINGLE  glance  at  the  map  will  make  the  read 
er  acquainted  with  the  position  of  the  eastern  coast 
of  the  Island  of  Great  I  ritain,  as  connected  with 
the  shores  of  the  opposite  continent.  Together 
they  form  the  boundaries  of  the  small  sea  that  has 
for  ages  been  known  to  the  world  as  the  scene  of 
maritime  exploits,  and  as  the  great  avenue  through 
which  commerce  and  war  have  conducted  the 
fleets  of  the  northern  nations  of  Europe.  Over 
this  sea  the  islanders  long  asserted  a  jurisdiction, 
exceeding  that  which  reason  concedes  to  any  pow 
er  on  the  highway  of  nations,  and  which  frequent 
iy  led  to  conflicts  that  caused  an  expenditure  oi 
blood  and  treasure,  utterly  disproportioned  to  the 
advantages  that  can  ever  arise  from  the  mainte 
nance  of  a  useless  and  abstract  right.  It  is  across 
the  waters  of  this  disputed  ocean  that  we  shall  at 
tempt  to  conduct  our  readers,  selecting  a  period 
for  our  incidents  that  has  peculiar  interests  for 
every  American,  not  only  because  it  was  the  birth- 


10  THE    PILOT. 

day  of  his  nation,  but  because  it  was  also  the  era 
when  reason  and  common  sense  began  to  take 
place  of  custom  and  feudal  practices  in  the  ma 
nagement  of  the  affairs  of  nations. 

Soon  after  the  events  of  the  revolution  had  in 
volved  the  kingdoms  of  France  and  Spain,  and  the 
republics  of  Holland,  in  our  quarrel,  a  group  of  la 
bourers  was  collected  in  a  field  that  lay  exposed 
to  the  winds  of  the  ocean,  on  the  north-eastern 
coast  of  England.  These  men  were  lightening 
their  toil,  and  cheering  the  gloom  of  a  day  in  De 
cember,  by  uttering  their  crude  opinions  on  the 
political  aspects  of  the  times.  The  fact  that  Eng 
land  was  engaged  in  a  war  with  some  of  her  de 
pendencies  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  had 
long  been  known  to  them,  after  the  manner  that 
faint  rumours  of  distant  and  uninteresting  events 
gain  on  the  ear  ;  but  now  that  nations,  with  whom 
she  had  been  used  to  battle,  were  armed  against 
her  in  the  quarrel,  the  din  of  war  had  disturbed 
the  quiet  even  of  these  secluded  and  illiterate  rus 
tics.  The  principal  speakers,  on  the  occasion, 
were  a  Scotch  drover,  who  was  waitiag  the  lei 
sure  of  the  occupant  of  the  fields,  and  an  Irish  la 
bourer,  who  had  found  his  way  across  the  channel, 
and  thus  far  over  the  island,  in  quest  of  employ 
ment. 

"  The  Nagurs  would'nt  have  been  a  job  at  all 
for  ould  England,  letting  alone  Ireland,"  said  the 
latter,  "if  these  French  and  Spanishers  hadn't 
been  troubling  themselves  in  the  matter.  I'm 
sure  it's  but  little  reason  I  have  for  thanking  them, 
if  a  man  is  to  kape  as  sober  as  a  praist  at  mass,  for 
fear  he  should  find  himself  a  souldier,  and  he  know 
ing  nothing  about  the  same.'* 

"  Hoot !  mon !  ye  ken  but  little  of  raising  an 
airmy  in  Ireland,  if  ye  mak'  a  drum  o'  a  whiskey 


THE    PILOT.  11 

keg,"  said  the  drover,  winking  to  the  listeners. 
"  Noo,  in  the  north,  they  ca'  a  gathering  of  the 
folk,  and  follow  the  pipes  as  graciously  as  ye  wad 
journey  kirkward  o'  a  Sabbath  morn*  I've  seen 
a'  the  names  o'  a  Heeland  raj'ment  on  a  sma'  bi 
paper,  that  ye  might  cover  wi'  a  leddy's  hand. 
They  war'  a'  Camerons  and  M'Donalds,  thougn 
they  paraded  sax  hundred  men  !  But  what  ha'  ye 
gotten  here  !  That  chield  has  an  ow'r  liking  to  tLe 
land  for  a  seafaring  body  ;  an'  if  the  bottom  o'  the 
sea  be  ony  thing  like  the  top  o't,  he's  in  gr'at  dan 
ger  o'  a  shipwrack  !" 

This  unexpected  change  in  the  discourse  drew 
all  eyes  on  the  object  towards  which  the  staff  of 
the  observant  drover  was  pointed.  To  the  utter 
amazement  of  every  individual  present,  a  small 
vessel  was  seen  moving  slowly  round  a  point  of 
land  that  formed  one  of  the  sides  of  the  little  bay, 
to  which  the  field  the  labourers  were  in  composed 
the  other.  There  was  something  very  peculiar  in 
the  externals  of  this  unusual  visiter,  which  added 
in  no  small  degree  to  the  surprise  created  by  her 
appearance  in  that  retired  place.  None  but  the 
smallest  vessels,  and  those  rarely,  or,  at  long  inter 
vals,  a  desperate  smuggler,  were  ever  known  to 
venture  so  close  to  the  land,  amid  the  sand-bars 
and  sunken  rocks  wTith  which  that  immediate  coast 
abounded.  The  adventurous  mariners  who  now 
attempted  this  dangerous  navigation  in  so  wanton, 
and,  apparently,  so  heedless  a  manner,  were  in  a 
low,  black  schooner,  whose  hull  seemed  utterly 
disproportioned  to  the  raking  masts  it  upheld, 
which,  in  their  turn,  supported  a  lighter  set  of 
spars,  that  tapered  away  until  their  upper  extremi 
ties  appeared  no  larger  than  the  lazy  pennant,  that 
in  vain  endeavoured  to  display  its  length  in  the 
light  breeze. 


12  THE    PILOT. 

The  short  day  of  that  high  northern  latitude 
was  already  drawing  to  a  close,  and  the  sun  was 
throwing  his  parting  rays  obliquely  across  the 
waters,  touching  the  gloomy  waves  here  and  there 
with  streaks  of  pale  light.  The  stormy  winds  of 
the  German  ocean  were  apparently  lulled  to  rest ; 
and,  though  the  incessant  rolling  of  the  surge  on 
the  shore,  heightened  the  gloomy  character  of  the 
hour  and  the  view,  the  light  ripple  that  ruffled  the 
sleeping  billows  was  produced  by  a  gentle  air,  that 
blew  directly  from  the  land.  Notwithstanding 
this  favourable  circumstance,  there  was  something 
threatening  in  the  aspect  of  the  ocean,  which  was 
speaking  in  hollow,  but  deep  murmurs,  like  a  vol 
cano  on  the  eve  of  an  eruption,  that  greatly  height 
ened  the  feelings  of  amazement  and  dread  with 
which  the  peasants  beheld  this  extraordinary  in 
terruption  to  the  quiet  of  their  little  bay.  With 
no  other  sails  spread  to  the  action  of  the  air,  than 
her  heavy  mainsail,  and  one  of  those  light  jibs  that 
projected  far  beyond  her  bows,  the  vessel  glided 
over  the  water  with  a  grace  and  facility  that  seem 
ed  magical  to  the  beholders,  who  turned  their 
wondering  looks  from  the  schooner  to  each  other, 
in  silent  amazement.  At  length  the  drover  spoke 
in  a  low,  solemn  voice — 

"  He's  a  bold  chield  that  steers  her !  and  if 
that  bit  craft  has  wood  in  her  bottom,  like  the  bri- 
gantiries  that  ply  between  Lon'on  and  the  PVith 
at  Leith,  he's  in  muir  danger  than  a  prudent  mon 
could  wish.  Ay  !  he's  by  the  big  rock  that  shows 
his  head  when  the  tide  runs  low,  but  it's  no  mor 
tal  man  who  can  steer  long  in  the  road  he's  jour 
neying,  and  not  speedily  find  land  wi'  water  a  top 
o't." 

The  little  schooner,  however,  still  held  her  way 
among  the  rocks  and  sand-pits,  making  such  slight 


THE    PILOT.  13 

deviations  in  her  course,  as  proved  her  to  be  un 
der  the  direction  of  one  who  knew  his  danger, 
until  she  had  entered  as  far  into  the  bay  as  pru 
dence  could  at  all  justify,  when  her  canvass  was 
gathered  into  folds,  seemingly  without  the  agency 
of  hands,  and  the  vessel,  after  rolling  for  a  few 
minutes  on  the  long  billows  that  hove  in  from  the 
ocean,  swung  round  in  the  currents  of  the  tide, 
and  was  held  by  her  anchor. 

The  peasants  now  began  to  make  their  con 
jectures  more  freely  concerning  the  character  and 
object  of  their  visiter ;  some  intimating  that  she 
was  engaged  in  contraband  trade,  and  others  that 
her  views  were  hostile,  and  her  business  war.  A 
few  dark  hints  were  hazarded  on  the  materiality 
of  her  construction,  for  nothing  of  artificial  forma 
tion,  it  was  urged,  would  be  ventured  by  men  in 
such  a  dangerous  place,  at  a  time  when  even  the 
most  inexperienced  landsman  was  enabled  to  fore 
tell  the  certain  gale.  The  Scotchman,  W7ho,  to  all 
the  sagacity  of  his  countrymen,  added  no  small  por 
tion  of  their  superstition,  leaned  greatly  to  the  lat 
ter  conclusion,  and  had  begun  to  express  this  sen 
timent  warily  and  with  reverence,  when  the  child 
of  Erin,  who  appeared  not  to  possess  any  very 
definite  ideas  on  the  subject,  interrupted  him,  by 
exclaiming — 

"  Faith !  there's  two  of  them  !  a  big  and  a  lit 
tle  !  sure  the  bogles  of  the  saa  likes  good  company 
the  same  as  any  other  Christians  !' 

"  Twa  !"  echoed  the  drover ;  "  twa  !  ill  luck 
bides  o'  some  o'  ye.  Twa  craft  a  sailing  without 
hand  to  guide  them,  in  sic  a  place  as  this,  whar' 
eyesight  is  na  guid  enough  to  show  the  dangers, 
bodes  evil  to  a'  that  luik  thereon.  Hoot !  she's 
na  yearling  the  tither  !  Luik,  mon  !  luik  !  she's 
a  gallant  boat,  and  a  gi  'at :"  he  paused,  raised  his 
2 


14  THE    PIJ.OT. 

pack  from  the  ground,  and  first  giving  one  search 
ing  look  at  the  objects  of  his  suspicions,  lie  nod 
ded  with  great  sagacity  to  the  listeners,  and  con 
tinued,  as  he  moved  slowly  towards  the  interior  of 
the  country,  "  I  should  na  wonder  if  she  carried 
King  George's  commission  aboot  her ;  'weel,  Jweel, 
I  wull  journey  upward  to  the  town,  and  ha'  a  crack 
wi'  the  good  mon,  for  they  craft  have  a  suspeecious 
aspect,  and  the  sma'  bit  thing  wu'ld  nab  a  mon 
quite  easy,  and  the  big  ane  wu'ld  hold  us  a'  and 
no  feel  we  war'  in  her." 

This  sagacious  warning  caused  a  general  move 
ment  in  the  party,  for  the  intelligence  of  a  hot 
press  was  among  the  rumours  of  the  times.  The 
husbandmen  collected  their  implements  of  labour, 
and  retired  homewards ;  and  though  many  a  cu 
rious  eye  was  bent  on  the  movements  of  the  ves 
sels  from  the  distant  hills,  but  very  few  of  those 
not  immediately  interested  in  the  mysterious  visi- 
ters  ventured  to  approach  the  little  rocky  cliffs 
that  lined  the  bay. 

The  vessel  that  occasioned  these  cautious  move 
ments  was  a  gallant  ship,  whose  huge  hull,  lofty 
masts,  and  square  yards,  loomed  in  the  evening's 
haze,  above  the  sea,  like  a  distant  mountain  rising 
from  the  deep.  She  carried  but  little  sail,  and 
though  she  warily  avoided  the  near  approach  to 
the  land  that  the  schooner  had  attempted,  the  si 
milarity  of  their  movements  was  sufficiently  appa 
rent  to  warrant  the  conjecture  that  they  were  em 
ployed  on  the  same  duty.  The  frigate,  for  the 
ship  belonged  to  this  class  of  vessels,  floated  across 
the  entrance  of  the  little  bay,  majestically  in  the 
tide,  with  barely  enough  motion  through  the  water 
to  govern  her  movements,  until  she  arrived  oppo 
site  to  the  place  where  her  consort  lay,  when  she 
have  up  heavily  into  the  wind,  squared  the  enor- 


THE    PILOT.  15 

mous  yards  -on  her  mainmast,  and  attempted,  in 
counteracting  the  power  of  her  sails  by  each  other, 
to  remain  stationary ;  but  the  light  air  that  had  at 
no  time  swelled  her  heavy  canvass  to  the  utmost, 
began  to  fail,  and  the  long  waves  that  rolled  in 
from  the  ocean,  ceased  to  be  ruffled  with  the  breeze 
from  the  land.  The  currents  and  the  billows 
were  fast  sweeping  the  frigate  towards  one  of  the 
points  of  the  estuary,  where  the  black  heads  of  the 
rocks  could  be  seen  running  far  into  the  sea,  and, 
in  their  turn,  the  mariners  of  the  ship  dropped  an 
anchor  to  the  bottom,  and  drew  her  sails  in  fes 
toons  to  the  yards.  As  the  vessel  swung  round  to 
the  tide,  a  heavy  ensign  was  raised  to  her  peak, 
and  a  current  of  air  opening,  for  a  moment,  its 
folds,  the  white  field  and  red  cross,  that  distinguish 
the  flag  of  England,  were  displayed  to  view.  So 
much,  even  the  wary  drover  had  loitered  at  a  dis 
tance  to  behold  ;  but  when  a  boat  was  launched 
from  either  vessel,  he  quickened  his  steps,  obser 
ving  to  his  wondering  and  amused  companions,  that 
"  they  craft  were  a'  thegither  mair  bonny  to  luik 
on  than  to  abide  wiV 

A  numerous  crew  manned  the  barge  that  was 
lowered  from  the  frigate,  which,  after  receiving  an 
officer,  with  an  attendant  youth,  left  the  ship,  and 
moved  with  a  measured  stroke  of  its  oars,  directly 
towards  the  head  of  the  bay.  As  it  passed  at  a 
short  distance  from  the  schooner,  a  light  whale- 
boat,  pulled  by  four  athletic  men,  shot  from  her 
side,  and  rather  dancing  over  than  cutting  through 
the  waves,  crossed  her  course  with  a  wonderful 
velocity.  As  the  boats  approached  each  other, 
the  men,  in  obedience  to  signals  from  their  officers, 
suspended  their  effc  rts,  and  for  a  few  minutes  they 
floated  at  rest,  dui  ing  which  time  there  was  the 
following  dialogue : 


16  THE     PILOT. 

"  Is  the  old  man  mad  !"  exclaimed  the  young 
officer  in  the  whale-boat,  when  his  men  had  ceased 
rowing ;  "  does  he  think  that  the  bottom  of  the 
Ariel  is  made  of  iron,  and  that  a  rock  can't  knock 
a  hole  in  it !  or  does  he  think  she  is  manned  with 
alligators,  who  can't  be  drowned  !" 

A  languid  smile  played  for  a  moment  round  the 
handsome  features  of  the  young  man,  who  was  ra 
ther  reclining  than  sitting  in  the  stern-sheets  of 
the  barge,  as  he  replied, 

"  He  knows  your  prudence  too  well,  Captain 
Barnstable,  to  fear  either  the  wreck  of  your  ves 
sel,  or  the  drowning  of  her  crew.  How  near  the 
bottom  does  your  keel  lie  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid  to  sound,"  returned  Barnstable. 
•'  I  have  never  the  heart  to  touch  a  lead-line  when 
I  see  the  rocks  coming  up  .to  breathe  like  so  many 
porpoises." 

"  You  are  afloat !"  exclaimed  the  other,  with  a 
vehemence  that  denoted  an  abundance  of  latent 
fire. 

"  Afloat !"  echoed  his  friend  ;  "  ay !  the  little 
Ariel  would  float  in  air !"  As  he  spoke,  he  rose 
in  the  boat,  and  lifting  his  leathern  sea-cap  from 
his  head,  stroked  back  the  thick  clusters  of  black 
locks  which  shadowed  his  sun-burnt  countenance, 
while  he  viewed  his  little  vessel  with  the  compla 
cency  of  a  seaman  who  was  proud  of  her  qualities, 
"  But  it's  close  work,  Mr.  Griffith,  when  a  man 
rides  to  a  single  anchor  in  a  place  like  this,  and  at 
such  a  nightfall.  What  are  the  orders  ?" 

"  I  shall  pull  into  the  surf  and  let  go  a  grap 
nel ;  you  will  take  Mr.  Merry  into  your  whale- 
boat,  and  try  to  drive  her  through  the  breakers  on 
the  beach." 

"Beach!"  retorted  Barnstable;  "  do  you  call 


THE    PILOT.  17 

a  perpendicular  rock  of  a  hundred  feet  in  height 
a  beach !" 

"  We  shall  not  dispute  about  terms,"  said  Grif 
fith,  smiling  ;  "  but  you  must  manage  to  get  on  the 
shore  ;  we  have  seen  the  signal  from  the  land,  and 
know  that  the  pilot,  whom  we  have  so  long  ex 
pected,  is  ready  to  come  off." 

Barnstable  shook  his  head  with  a  grave  air, 
as  he  muttered  to  himself,  "  this  is  droll  naviga 
tion  ;  first  we  run  into  an  unfrequented  bay  that 
is  full  of  rocks,  and  sand-pits,  and  shoals,  and 
then  we  get  off  our  pilot.  But  how  am  I  to  know 
him?" 

"  Merry  will  give  you  the  pass-word,  and  tell 
you  where  to  look  for  him.  I  would  land  myself, 
but  my  orders  forbid  it.  If  you  meet  with  difficul 
ties,  show  three  oar-blades  in  a  row,  and  I  will 
pull  in  to  your  assistance.  Three  oars  on  end,  and 
a  pistol,  will  bring  the  fire  of  my  muskets,  and  the 
signal  repeated  from  the  barge  will  draw  a  shot 
from  the  ship." 

"  I  thank  you,  I  thank  you,"  said  Barnstable, 
carelessly ;  "  I  believe  I  can  fight  my  own  battles 
against  all  the  enemies  we  are  likely  to  fall  in  with 
on  this  coast.  But  the  old  man  is  surely  mad.  I 
would " 

"  You  would  obey  his  orders  if  he  were  here, 
and  you  will  now  please  to  obey  mine,"  said  Grif 
fith,  in  a  tone  that  the  friendly  expression  of  his 
eye  contradicted.  "  Pull  in,  and  keep  a  look  out 
for  a  small  man  in  a  drab  pee-jacket ;  Merry  will 
give  you  the  word ;  if  he  answer  it,  bring  him  off 
to  the  barge." 

The   young  men  now    nodded  familiarly  and 

kindly  to  each  other,  and  the  boy,  who  was  called 

Mr,  Merry,  having  changed  his  place  from   the 

barge  to  the  whale-boat,  Barnstable  threw  himself 

2* 


18 


THE     PILOT. 


into  his  seat,  and  making  a  signal  with  his  hand, 
his  men  again  bent  to  their  oars.  The  light  ves 
sel  shot  away  from  her  companion,  and  dashed  in 
boldly  towards  the  rocks ;  after  skirting  the  shore 
for  some  distance  in  quest  of  a  favourable  place, 
she  was  suddenly  turned,  and,  dashing  over  the 
broken  waves,  was  run  upon  a  spot  where  a  land 
ing  could  be  effected  in  safety. 

In  the  mean  time  the  barge  followed  these 
movements,  at  some  distance,  with  a  more  mea 
sured  progress,  and  when  the  whale-boat  was  ob 
served  to  be  drawn  up  along  side  of  a  rock,  the 
promised  grapnel  was  cast  into  the  water,  and  her 
crew  deliberately  proceeded  to  get  their  firearms 
in  a  state  for  immediate  service.  Every  thing  ap 
peared  to  be  done  in  obedience  to  strict  orders 
that  must  have  been  previously  communicated ; 
for  the  young  man,  who  has  been  introduced  to 
the  reader  by  the  name  of  Griffith,  seldom  spoke, 
and  then  only  in  the  pithy  expressions  that  are 
apt  to  fall  from  those  who  are  sure  of  obedience. 
When  the  boat  had  brought  up  to  her  grapnel,  he 
sunk  back  at  his  length  on  the  cushioned  seats  of 
the  barge,  and  drawing  his  hat  over  his  eyes  in  a 
listless  manner,  he  continued  for  many  minutes  ap 
parently  absorbed  in  thoughts  altogether  foreign 
to  his  present  situation.  Occasionally  he  rose,  and 
would  first  bend  his  looks  in  quest  of  his  compa 
nions  on  the  shore,  and  then,  turning  his  expres 
sive  eyes  towards  the  ocean,  the  abstracted  and 
vacant  air  that  so  often  usurped  the  place  of  ani 
mation  and  intelligence  in  his  countenance,  would 
give  place  to  the  anxious  and  intelligent  look  of 
a  seaman  gifted  with  an  experience  beyond  his 
years.  His  weather-beaten  and  hardy  crew,  hav 
ing  made  their  dispositions  for  offence,  sat  in  pro 
found  silence,  with  their  hands  thrust  into  the  bo^ 


THE    PILOT. 


corns  of  their  jackets,  but  with  their  eyes  earnestly 
regarding  every  cloud  that  was  gathering  in  the 
threatening  atmosphere,  and  exchanging  looks  of 
deep  care,  whenever  the  boat  rose  higher  than 
usual  on  one  of  those  long,  heavy  ground-swells, 
that  were  heaving  in  from  the  ocean  with  increas 
ing  rapidity  and  magnitude. 


CHAPTER  II. 


• "  A  horseman's  coat  shall  hide 


Thy  taper  shape  and  comeliness  of  side  *, 
And  with  a  bolder  stride  and  looser  air, 
Mingled  with  men,  a  man  thou  must  appear." 

Prior 


WHEN  the  whale-boat  obtained  the  position  we 
have  described,  the  young  lieutenant,  who,  in 
consequence  of  commanding  a  schooner,  was 
usually  addressed  by  the  title  of  captain,  stepped 
on  the  rocks,  followed  by  the  youthful  midship 
man,  who  had  quitted  the  barge,  to  aid  in  the  ha 
zardous  duty  of  their  expedition. 

"  This  is,  at  best,  but  a  Jacob's  ladder  we  have 
to  climb,"  said  Barnstable,  casting  his  eyes  up 
wards  at  the  difficult  ascent,  "  and  it's  by  no  means 
certain  that  we  shall  be  well  received,  when  we 
get  up,  though  we  should  even  reach  the  top." 

"  We  are  under  the  guns  of  the  frigate,"  re- 
turned  the  boy ;  "  and  you  remember,  sir,  three 
oar  blades  and  a  pistol,  repeated  from  the  barge, 
will  draw  her  fire." 

"  Yes,  on  our  own  heads.  Boy,  never  be  so 
foolish  as  to  trust  a  long  shot.  It  makes  a  great 
smoke  and  some  noise,  but  it's  a  terrible  uncertain 
manner  of  throwing  old  iron  about.  In  such  a  bu 
siness  as  this,  I  would  sooner  trust  Tom  Coffin 
and  his  harpoon  to  back  me,  than  the  best  broad- 


THE    PILOT.  2J 

side  that  ever  rattled  out  of  the  three  decks  of  a 
ninety  gun  ship.  Come,  gather  your  limbs  to 
gether,  and  try  if  you  can  walk  on  terra  firma, 
Master  Coffin." 

The  seaman  who  was  addressed  by  this  dire 
appellation,  arose  slowly  from  the  place  where  he 
was  stationed  as  cockswain  of  the  boat,  and  seem 
ed  to  ascend  high  in  air  by  the  gradual  evolution 
of  numberless  folds  in  his  body.  When  erect,  he 
stood  nearly  six  feet  and  as  many  inches  in  his 
shoes,  though,  when  elevated  in  his  most  perpen 
dicular  attitude,  there  was  a  forward  inclination 
about  his  head  and  shoulders,  that  appeared  to  be 
the  consequence  of  habitual  confinement  in  limited 
lodgings.  His  whole  frame  was  destitute  of  the 
rounded  outlines  of  a  well-formed  man,  though  his 
enormous  hands  furnished  a  display  of  bones  and 
sinews  which  gave  indications  of  gigantic  strength. 
On  his  head  he  wore  a  little,  low,  brown  hat  of 
wool,  with  an  arched  top,  that  threw  an  expres 
sion  of  peculiar  solemnity  and  hardness  over  his 
harsh  visage,  the  sharp  prominent  features  of  which 
were  completely  encircled  by  a  set  of  black  whis 
kers,  that  began  to  be  grizzled  a  little  with  age. 
One  of  his  hands  grasped,  with  a  sort  of  instinct, 
the  staff  of  a  bright  harpoon,  the  lower  end  of 
which  he  placed  firmly  on  the  rock,  as,  in  obe 
dience  to  the  order  of  his  commander,  he  left  the 
place,  where,  considering  his  vast  dimensions,  he 
had  been  established  in  an  incredibly  small  space. 

As  soon  as  Captain  Barnstable  received  this 
addition  to  his  strength,  he  gave  a  few  pre 
cautionary  orders  to  the  men  in  the  boat,  and 
proceeded  to  the  difficult  task  of  ascending  the 
rocks.  Notwithstanding  the  great  daring  and 
personal  agility  of  Barnstable,  he  would  have 
been  completely  baffled  in  this  attempt,  but  for  the 


22  THE    PILOT 

assistance  he  occasionally  received  from  his  cock- 
swain,  whose  prodigious  strength,  and  great  length 
of  limbs,  enabled  him  to  make  exertions  which  it 
would  have  been  useless  for  most  men  to  attempt. 
When  within  a  few  feet  of  the  summit,  they  availed 
themselves  of  a  projecting  rock,  to  pause  for  con 
sultation  and  breath  ;  both  of  which  seemed  ne 
cessary  for  their  further  movements. 

"  This  will  be  but  a  bad  place  for  a  retreat,  if 
we  should  happen  to  fall  in  with  enemies,"  said 
Barnstable.  "  Where  are  we  to  look  for  this  pi 
lot,  Mr.  Merry,  or  how  are  we  to  know  him  ;  and 
what  certainty  have  you  that  he  will  not  betray 
us  ?" 

"  The  question  you  are  to  put  to  him  is  written 
on  this  bit  of  paper,"  returned  the  boy,  as  he 
handed  the  other  the  word  of  recognition ;  "  we 
made  the  signal  on  the  point  of  the  rock  at  yon 
headland,  but  as  he  must  have  seen  our  boat,  he 
will  follow  us  to  this  place.  As  to  his  betraying 
us,  he  seems  to  have  the  confidence  of  Captain 
Munson,  who  has  kept  a  bright  loqk-oirt  for  him 
ever  since  we  made  the  land." 

"  Ay,"  muttered  the  lieutenant,  "  and  I  shall 
have  a  bright  look-out  kept  on  him,  now  we  are 
on  the  land.  I  like  not  this  business  of  hugging 
the  shore  so  closely,  nor  have  I  much  faith  in  any 
traitor.  What  think  you  of  it,  Master  Coffin  ?" 

The  hardy  old  seaman,  thus  addressed,  turned 
his  grave  visage  on  his  commander,  and  replied 
with  a  becoming  gravity — 

"  Give  me  a  plenty  of  sea-room,  and  good  can 
vass,  where  there  is  no  occasion  for  pilots  at  all, 
sir.  For  my  part,  I  was  born  on  board  a  chebac- 
co-man,  and  never  could  see  the  use  of  more  land 
than  now  and  then  a  small  island,  to  raise  a  few 
vegetables,  and  to  dry  your  fish — I'm  sure  the 


THE    PILOT  23 

sight  of  it  always  makes  me  feel  uncomfortable, 
unless  we  have  the  wind  dead  off  shore." 

"  Ah  !  Tom,  you  are  a  sensible  fellow,"  said 
Barnstable,  with  an  air  half  comic,  half  serious. 
"  But  we  must  be  moving ;  the  sun  is  just  touch 
ing  those  clouds  to  sea-ward,  and  God  keep  us 
from  riding  out  this  night  at  anchor  in  such  a  place 
as  this,," 

Laying  his  hand  on  a  projection  of  the  rock 
above  him,  Barnstable  swung  himself  forward,  and 
following  this  movement  with  a  desperate  leap  or 
two,  he  stood  at  once  on  the  brow  of  the  cliff.  His 
cockswain  very  deliberately  raised  the  midship 
man  after  his  officer,  and  proceeding  with  more 
caution,  but  less  exertion,  he  soon  placed  himself 
by  his  side. 

When  they  reached  the  level  land,  that  lay 
above  the  cliffs,  and  began  to  inquire,  with  curious 
and  wary  eyes,  into  the  surrounding  scenery,  the 
adventurers  discovered  a  cultivated  country,  di 
vided,  in  the  usual  manner,  by  hedges  and  walls. 
Only  one  habitation  for  man,  however,  and  that 
a  small  dilapidated  cottage,  stood  within  a  mile  of 
them,  most  of  the  dwellings  being  placed  as  far  as 
convenience  would  permit,  from  the  fogs  and  damps 
of  the  ocean. 

"  Here  seems  to  be  neither  any  thing  to  appre 
hend,  nor  the  object  of  our  search,"  said  Barnsta 
ble,  when  he  had  taken  the  whole  view  in  his  sur 
vey  ;  "  I  fear  we  have  landed  to  no  purpose,  Mr. 
Merry.  What  say  you,  long  Tom  ;  see  you  what 
we  want  ?" 

u  I  see  no  pilot,  sir,"  returned  the  cockswain ; 
"  but  it's  an  ill  wind  that  blows  luck  to  nobody  ; 
there  is  a  mouthful  of  fresh  meat  stowed  away 
under  that  row  of  bushes,  that  would  make  a 
double  ration  to  all  hands  in  the  Ariel." 


24  THE    PIT,OT. 

The  midshipman  laughed,  as  he  pointed  out  to 
Barnstable  the  object  of  the  cockswain's  solicitude, 
which  proved  to  be  a  fat  ox,  quietly  ruminating 
under  a  hedge  near  them. 

"  There's  many  a  hungry  fellow  aboard  of  us," 
said  the  boy  merrily,  "  who  would  be  glad  to  se 
cond  long  Tom's  motion,  if  the  time  and  business 
would  permit  us  to  slay  the  animal." 

"  It  is  but  a  lubber's  blow,  Mr.  Merry,"  return 
ed  the  cockswain,  without  a  muscle  of  his  hard 
face  yielding,  as  he  struck  the  end  of  his  harpoon 
violently  against  the  earth,  and  then  made  a  mo 
tion  towards  poising  the  weapon  ;  "  let  Captain 
Barnstable  but  say  the  word,  and  I'll  drive  the  iron 
through  him  to  the  quick ;  I've  sent  it  to  the 
seizing  in  many  a  whale,  that  hadn't  a  jacket  of 
such  blubber  as  that  fellow  wears." 

"  Pshaw !  you  are  not  on  a  whaling  voyage, 
where  every  thing  that  offers  is  game,"  said  Barn- 
stable,  turning  himself  pettishly  away  from  the 
beast,  as  if  he  distrusted  his  own  forbearance  ; 
"  but  stand  fast !  I  see  some  one  approaching  be 
hind  the  hedge.  Look  to  your  arms,  Mr.  Merry 
— the  first  thing  we  hear  may  be  a  shot." 

"  Not  from  that  cruiser,"  cried  the  thoughtless 
lad ;  "  he  is  a  younker,  like  myself,  and  would 
hardly  dare  run  down  upon  such  a  formidable  force 
as  we  muster." 

"  You  say  true,  boy,"  returned  Barnstable,  re 
linquishing  the  grasp  he  held  on  his  pistol.  "  He 
comes  on  with  caution,  as  if  afraid.  He  is  small, 
and  is  in  drab,  though  I  should  hardly  call  it  a  pee- 
jacket — and  yet  he  may  be  our  man.  Stand  you 
both  here,  while  I  go  and  hail  him." 

As  Barnstable  walked  rapidly  towards  the  hedge, 
that  in  part  concealed  the  stranger,  the  latter 
stopped  suddenly,  and  seemed  to  be  in  doubt 


THE    PILOT.  25 

whether  to  advance  or  to  retreat.  Before  he  had 
decided  on  either,  the  active  sailor  was  within  a 
lew  feet  of  him. 

"  Pray,  sir,"  said  Barnstable,  "  what  water 
have  we  in  this  bay  ?" 

The  slight  form  of  the  stranger  started,  with 
an  extraordinary  emotion,  at  this  question,  and  he 
shrunk  aside  involuntarily,  as  if  to  conceal  his  fea 
tures,  before  he  answered,  in  a  voice  that  was 
barely  audible — 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be  the  water  of  the 
German  ocean." 

"  Indeed  !  you  must  have  passed  no  small  part 
of  your  short  life  in  the  study  of  geography,  to  be 
PO  well  informed,"  returned  the  lieutenant ;  "  per 
haps,  sir,  your  cunning  is  also  equal  to  telling  me 
how  long  we  shall  sojourn  together,  if  I  make  you 
a  prisoner,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  your 
wit  f " 

To  this  alarming  intimation,  the  youth  who  was 
addressed  made  no  reply  ;  but,  as  he  averted  his 
face,  and  concealed  it  with  both  his  hands,  the  of 
fended  seaman,  believing  that  a  salutary  impres 
sion  had  been  made  upon  the  fears  of  his  auditor, 
was  about  to  proceed  with  his  interrogatories. 
The  singular  agitation  of  the  stranger's  frame, 
however,  caused  the  lieutenant  to  continue  silent 
a  few  moments  longer,  when,  to  his  utter  amaze 
ment,  he  discovered  that  what  he  had  mistaken 
for  alarm,  was  produced  by  an  endeavour,  on  the 
part  of  the  youth,  to  suppress  a  violent  fit  of  laugh 
ter. 

"  $"ow,  by  all  the  whales  in  the  sea,"  cried  Barn- 
stable,  "  but  you  are  merry  out  of  season,  young 
gentlemen.  It's  quite  bad  enough  to  be  ordered 
to  anchor  in  such  a  bay  as  this  with  a  storm  brew- 


i2()  THE     PILOT. 

ing  before  my  eyes,  without  landing  to  oe  laughed 
at,  by  a  stripling  who  has  not  strength  to  carry  a 
beard  if  he  had  one,  when  I  ought  to  be  getting 
an  offing  for  the  safety  of  both  body  and  soul.  But 
I'll  know  more  of  you  and  your  jokes,  if  I  take 
you  into  my  own  mess,  and  am  giggled  out  of  my 
sleep  for  the  rest  of  the  cruise." 

As  the  commander  of  the  schooner  concluded, 
he  approached  the  stranger,  with  an  air  of  offering 
some  violence,  but  the  other  shrunk  back  from  his 
extended  arm,  and  exclaimed,  with  a  voice  in 
which  real  terror  had  gotten  the  better  of  mirth — 

"  Barnstable !  dear  Barnstable  !  would  you 
harm  me  !" 

The  sailor  recoiled  several  feet,  at  this  unex 
pected  appeal,  and  rubbing  his  eyes,  he  threw  the 
cap  from  his  head,  before  he  cried — 

"  What  do  I  hear !  and  what  do  I  see  !  There 
lies  the  Ariel —  and  yonder  is  the  frigate.  Can 
this  be  Katherine  Plowden  !" 

His  doubts,  if  any  doubts  remained,  were  soon 
removed,  for  the  stranger  sunk  on  the  bank  at  her 
side,  in  an  attitude  in  which  female  bashfulness 
was  beautifully  contrasted  to  her  attire,  and  gave 
vent  to  her  mirth  in  an  uncontrollable  burst  of  mer 
riment. 

From  that  moment,  all  thoughts  of  his  duty,  and 
the  pilot,  or  even  of  the  Ariel,  appeared  to  be  ba 
nished  from  the  mind  of  the  seaman,  who  sprang  to 
her  side,  and  joined  in  her  mirth,  though  he  hard 
ly  knew  why  or  wherefore. 

When  the  diverted  girl  had  in  some  degree  re 
covered  her  composure,  she  turned  to  her  compa 
nion,  who  had  sat  good-naturedly  by  her  side,  con 
tent  to  be  laughed  at,  and  said — 

"  But  this  is  not  only  silly,  but  cruel  to  others. 


THE    PILOT.  27 

I  owe  you  an  explanation  of  my  unexpected  ap 
pearance,  and  perhaps,  also,  of  my  extraordinary 
attire." 

"  I  can  anticipate  every  thing,"  cried  Barnsta- 
ble  ;  "  you  heard  that  we  were  on  the  coast,  and 
have  flown  to  redeem  the  promises  you  made  me 
in  America.  But  I  ask  no  more  ;  the  chaplain  of 
the  frigate—" 

"  May  preach  as  usual,  and  to  as  little  purpose," 
interrupted  the  disguised  female  ;  "  but  no  nuptial 
benediction  shall  be  pronounced  over  me,  until  J 
have  effected  the  object  of  this  hazardous  experi 
ment.  You  are  not  usually  selfish,  Barnstable  ; 
would  you  have  me  forgetful  of  the  happiness  of 
others  ?" 

"  Of  whom  do  you  speak  ?" 

"  My  poor,  my  devoted  cousin.  I  heard  that 
two  vessels  answering  the  description  of  the  fri 
gate  and  the  Ariel,  were  seen  hovering  on  the 
coast,  and  I  determined  at  once  to  have  a  commu 
nication  with  you.  I  have  followed  your  move* 
ments  for  a  week,  in  this  dress,  but  have  been  un 
successful  till  now.  To-day  I  observed  you  to 
approach  nearer  to  the  shore  than  usual,  and  hap 
pily,  by  being  adventurous,  I  have  been  success 
fill." 

"  Ay,  God  knows  we  are  near  enough  to  the 
land  !  But  does  Captain  Munson  know  of  your 
wish  to  get  on  board  his  ship  ?" 

"  Certainly  not — none  know  of  it  but  yourself. 
[  thought  that  if  Griffith  and  you  could  learn  our 
situation,  you  might  be  tempted  to  hazard  a  little 
to  redeem  us  from  our  thraldom.  In  this  paper  1 
uave  prepared  such  an  account  as  will,  I  trust,  ex 
cite  all  your  chivalry,  and  by  which  you  may  go 
vern  your  movements." 


28 


THE    PILOT 


4<  Our  movements !"  interrupted  Barnstable, 
"  you  will  pilot  us  in  person." 

"  Then  there's  two  of  them  !"  said  a  hoarse 
voice  near  them. 

The  alarmed  female  shrieked  as  she  recovered 
her  feet,  but  she  still  adhered,  with  instinctive  de 
pendence,  to  the  side  of  her  lover.  Barnstable, 
who  recognised  the  tones  of  his  cockswain,  bent  an 
angry  brow  on  the  sober  visage  that  was  peering 
at  them  above  the  hedge,  and  demanded  the  mean 
ing  of  the  interruption. 

"  Seeing  you  were  hull-down,  sir,  and  not 
knowing  but  the  chase  might  lead  you  ashore,  Mr. 
Merry  thought  it  best  to  have  a  look-out  kept.  I 
told  him  that  you  were  overhauling  the  mail  bags 
of  the  messenger  for  the  news,  but  as  he  was  an 
officer,  sir,  and  I  nothing  but  a  common  hand,  I 
did  as  he  ordered." 

"  Return,  sir,  where  I  commanded  you  to  re 
main,"  said  Barnstable,  "  and  desire  Mr.  Merry  to 
wait  my  pleasure." 

The  cockswain  gave  the  usual  reply  of  an  obe 
dient  seaman,  but  before  he  left  the  hedge,  he 
stretched  out  one  of  his  brawny  arms  towards  the 
ocean,  and  said,  in  tones  of  solemnity  suited  to  his 
apprehensions  and  character — 

u  I  showed  you  how  to  knot  a  reef-point,  and 
pass  a  gasket,  Captain  Barnstable,  nor  do  I  believe 
you  could  even  take  two  half-hitches  when  you 
first  came  aboard  of  the  Spalmacitty.  These  be 
things  that  a  man  is  soon  expart  in,  but  it  takes  the 
time  of  his  nat'ral  life  to  larn  to  know  the  weather^ 
There  be  streaked  wind-galls  in  the  offing,  that 
speak  as  plainly,  to  all  that  see  them,  and  know 
God's  language  in  the  clouds,  as  ever  you  spoke 
through  a  trumpet,  to  shorten  sail ;  besides,  sir. 


THE    PILOT.  29 

don't  you  hear  the  sea  moaning,  as  if  it  knew  the 
hour  was  at  hand  when  it  was  to  wake  up  from  its 
sleep  !" 

u  Ay,  Tom,"  returned  his  officer,  walking  to 
the  edge  of  the  cliffs,  and  throwing  a  seaman's 
glance  at  the  gloomy  ocean,  "  'tis  a  threatening 
night  indeed  ;  but  this  pilot  must  be  had — and — " 

"  Is  that  the  man  ?"  interrupted  the  cockswain, 
pointing  towards  a  man  who  was  standing  not  far 
from  them,  an  attentive  observer  of  their  proceed 
ings,  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  narrowly  watch 
ed  himself  by  the  young  midshipman.  "  God  send 
that  he  knows  his  trade  well,  for  the  bottom  of  a 
ship  will  need  eyes  to  find  its  road  out  of  this  wild 
anchorage." 

"  That  must  indeed  be  the  man  !"  exclaimed 
Barnstable,  at  once  recalled  to  his  duty.  He  then 
held  a  short  dialogue  with  his  female  companion, 
whom  he  left  concealed  by  the  hedge,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  address  the  stranger.  When  near  enough 
to  be  heard,  the  commander  of  the  schooner  de 
manded — 

"  What  water  have  you  in  this  bay  ?" 

The  stranger,  who  seemed  to  expect  this  ques 
tion,  answered  without  the  least  hesitation — 

"  Enough  to  take  all  out  in  safety,  who  have 
entered  with  confidence." 

"  You  are  the  man  I  seek,"  cried  Barnstable  ; 
"  are  you  ready  to  go  off?" 

"  Both  ready  and  willing,"  returned  the  pilot, 
"  and  there  is  need  of  haste.  I  would  give  the 
best  hundred  guineas  that  ever  were  coined,  for 
two  hours  more  use  of  that  sun  which  has  left  us, 
or  for  even  half  the  time  of  this  fading  twilight  " 

"  Think  you  our  situation  so  bad  !"  said  the 
lieutenant.  "  Follow  this  gentleman  to  the  boat 
then  ;  I  will  join  you  by  the  time  you  can  descend 


30  THE    PILOT 

the  cliffs.  I  believe  I  can  prevail  on  another  hand 
to  go  off  with  us." 

"  Time  is  more  precious  now  than  any  number 
of  hands,"  said  the  pilot,  throwing  a  glance  of  im 
patience  from  under  his  lowering  brows.  u  and  the 
consequences  of  delay  must  be  visited  on  those 
who  occasion  it." 

"  And,  sir,  I  will  meet  the  consequences  with 
those  who  have  a  right  to  inquire  into  my  conduct," 
said  Barnstable,  haughtily. 

With  this  warning  and  retort,  they  separated ; 
the  young  officer  retracing  his  steps  impatiently 
towards  his  mistress,  muttering  his  indignation  in 
suppressed  execrations,  and  the  pilot,  drawing  the 
leathern  belt  of  his  pee-jacket  mechanically  around 
his  body,  as  he  followed  the  midshipman  and  cock 
swain  to  their  boat,  in  moody  silence. 

Barnstable  found  the  disguised  female  who  had 
announced  herself  as  Katherine  Plowden,  awaiting 
his  return,  with  intense  anxiety  depicted  on  every 
feature  of  her  intelligent  countenance.  As  he  felt 
all  the  responsibility  of  his  situation,  notwithstand 
ing  his  cool  reply  to  the  pilot,  the  young  man  has 
tily  drew  an  arm  of  the  apparent  boy,  forgetful  of 
her  disguise,  through  his  own,  and  led  her  for 
ward. 

"  Come,  Katherine,"  he  said,  "  the  time  urges 
to  be  prompt." 

"  What  pressing  necessity  is  there  for  immedi 
ate  departure  ?"  she  inquired,  checking  his  move 
ments  by  withdrawing  herself  from  his  side. 

"  You  heard  the  ominous  prognostic  of  my 
cockswain  on  the  weather,  and  I  am  forced  to  add 
my  own  testimony  to  his  opinion.  'Tis  a  crazy 
night  that  threatens  us,  though  I  cannot  repent  of 
coming  into  the  bay,  since  it  has  led  to  this  inter 
view." 


THE    PILOT.  31 

"  God  forbid  that  we  should  either  of  us  have 
cause  to  repent  of  it,"  said  Katherine,  the  paleness 
of  anxiety  chasing  away  the  rich  bloom  that  had 
mantled  the  animated  face  of  the  brunette.  "  But 
you  have  the  paper — follow  its  directions,  and 
come  to  our  rescue  ;  you  will  find  us  willing  cap 
tives,  if  Griffith  and  yourself  are  our  conquerors." 

"  What  mean  you,  Katherine !"  exclaimed  hei 
lover  ;  "  you  at  least  are  now  in  safety — 'twould 
be  madness  to  tempt  your  fate  again.  My  vessel 
can  and  shall  protect  you,  until  your  cousin  is  re 
deemed  ;  and  then,  remember,  I  have  a  claim  on 
you  for  life." 

"  And  how  would  you  dispose  of  me  in  the  in 
terval,"  said  the  young  maiden,  retreating  slowly 
from  his  advances. 

"  In  the  Ariel — by  heaven,  you  shall  be  her 
commander  ;  I  will  bear  that  rank  only  in  name." 

"  I  thank  you,  thank  you,  Barnstable,  but  dis 
trust  my  abilities  to  fill  such  a  station,"  she  said, 
laughing,  though  the  colour  that  again  crossed 
her  youthful  features  was  like  the  glow  of  a  sum 
mer's  sunset,  and  even  her  mirthful  eyes  seemed 
to  reflect  their  tints.  "  Do  not  mistake  me,  saucy 
one.  If  .1  have  done  more  than  my  sex  will  war 
rant,  remember  it  was  through  a  holy  motive,  and 
if  I  have  more  than  a  woman's  enterprise,  it  must 
be—" 

"  To  lift  you  above  the  weakness  oi  your  sex," 
he  cried,  "  and  to  enable  you  to  show  your  noble 
confidence  in  me." 

"  To  fit  me  for,  and  to  keep  me  worthy  of  be 
ing  one  day  your  wife."  As  she  uttered  these 
words,  she  turned,  and  disappeared,  with  a  rapidi 
ty  that  eluded  his  attempt  to  detain  her,  behind 
an  angle  of  the  hedge,  that  was  near  them.  For 
a  moment,  Barnstable  remained  motionless  through 


6  THE    PILOT. 

surprise,  and  when  he  sprang  forward  in  pursuit, 
he  was  able  only  to  catch  a  glimspe  of  her  light 
form,  in  the  gloom  of  the  evening,  as  she  again 
vanished  in  a  little  thicket  at  some  distance. 

Barnstable  was  about  to  pursue,  when  the  air 
lighted  with  a  sudden  flash,  and  the  bellowing  re 
port  of  a  cannon  rolled  along  the  cliffs,  and  was 
echoed  among  the  hills  far  inland. 

"  Ay,  grumble  away,  old  dotard  !"  the  disap 
pointed  young  sailor  muttered  to  himself,  while 
he  reluctantly  obeyed  the  signal ;  "  you  are  in  as 
great  a  hurry  to  get  out  of  your  danger  as  you  were 
to  run  into  it." 

The  quick  reports  of  three  muskets  from  the 
barge  beneath  where  he  stood,  urged  him  to  quick 
en  his  pace,  and  as  he  threw  himself  carelessly 
down  the  rugged  and  dangerous  passes  of  the  cliffg> 
his  experienced  eye  beheld  the  well  known  lights 
displayed  from  the  frigate,  which  commanded  "  the 
recall  of  all  her  boats." 


CHAPTER  III. 


In  such  a  time  as  this  it  is  not  meet, 
That  every  nice  offence  should  bear  its  comment. 
Shakspeare. 


THE  cliffs  threw  their  dark  shadows  wide  on  the 
waters,  and  the  gloom  of  the  evening  had  so  fai 
advanced,  as  to  conceal  the  discontent  that  brood 
ed  over  the  ordinarily  open  brow  of  Barnstable,  as 
he  sprang  from  the  rocks  into  the  boat,  and  took 
his  seat  by  the  side  of  the  silent  pilot. 

"  Shove  off,"  cried  the  lieutenant,  in  tones  that 
his  men  knew  must  be  obeyed.  "  A  seaman's 
curse  light  on  the  folly  that  exposes  planks  and 
lives  to  such  navigation ;  and  all  to  burn  some  old 
timber-man,  or  catch  a  Norway  trader  asleep  !  give 
way,  men,  give  way." 

Notwithstanding  the  heavy  and  dangerous  surf 
that  was  beginning  to  tumble  in  upon  the  rocks,  in 
an  alarming  manner,  the  startled  seamen  succeed 
ed  in  urging  their  light  boat  over  the  waves,  and 
in  a  few  seconds  were  without  the  point  where 
danger  was  most  to  be  apprehended.  Barnstable 
had  seemingly  disregarded  the  breakers  as  they 
passed,  but  sat  sternly  eyeing  the  foam  that  rolled 
by  them  in  successive  surges,  until  the  boat  rose 
regularly  on  the  long  seas,  when  he  turned  his 
looks  around  the  bay  in  quest  of  the  barge. 


84  THE    PILOT. 

"  Ay,  Griffith  has  tired  of  rocking  in  his  pillow 
ed  cradle,"  he  muttered,  "  and  will  give  us  a  pull 
to  the  frigate,  when  we  ought  to  be  getting  the 
schooner  out  of  this  hard-featured  landscape.  This 
is  just  such  a  place  as  one  of  your  sighing  lovers 
would  doat  on;  a  little  land,  a  little  water,  and  a 
good  deal  of  rock.  Damme,  long  Tom,  but  T  am 
more  than  half  of  your  mind,  that  an  island  now 
and  then  is  all  the  terra  firma  that  a  seaman 
needs." 

"  It's  reason  and  philosophy,  sir,"  returned  the 
sedate  cockswain  ;  "  and  what  land  there  is,  should 
always  be  a  soft  mud,  or  a  sandy  ooze,  in  order 
that  an  anchor  might  hold,  and  to  make  soundings 
sartin.  I  have  lost  many  a  deep-sea,  besides  hand- 
leads,  by  the  dozens,  on  rocky  bottoms  ;  but  give 
me  the  roadstead  where  a  lead  comes  up  light,  and 
an  anchor  heavy.  There's  a  boat  pulling  athwart 
our  fore-foot,  Captain  Barnstable  ;  shall  I  run  her 
aboard,  or  give  her  a  birth,  sir  ?" 

"  'Tis  the  barge  !"  cried  the  officer  ;  "  Ned  has 
not  deserted  me  after  all !" 

A  loud  hail  from  the  approaching  boat  confirm 
ed  this  opinion,  and,  in  a  few  seconds,  the  barge 
and  whale-boat  were  again  rolling  by  each  other's 
side.  Griffith  was  no  longer  reclining  on  the  cush 
ions  of  his  seats,  but  spoke  earnestly,  and  with  a 
slight  tone  of  reproach  in  his  manner. 

"  Why  have  you  wasted  so  many  precious  mo 
ments,  when  every  minute  threatens  us  with  new 
dangers  ?  I  was  obeying  the  signal,  but  I  heard 
your  oars,  and  pulled  back  to  take  out  the  pilot. 
Have  you  been  successful  ?" 

"  There  he  is  ;  and  if  he  finds  his  way  out, 
through  the  shoals,  he  will  earn  a  right  to  his 
name.  This  bids  fair  to  be  a  night  when  a  man 
will  need  a  spy-glass  to  find  the  moon.  But  when 


THE    PILOT.  36 

you  hear  what  I  have  seen  on  those  rascally  cliffs, 
you  will  be  more  ready  to  excuse  my  delay,  Mr. 
Griffith." 

"  You  have  seen  the  true  man,  I  trust,  or  we 
incur  this  hazard  to  an  evil  purpose." 

"  Ay,  I  have  seen  him  that  is  a  true  man,  and 
him  that  is  not,"  replied  Barnstable,  bitterly ; 
"You  have  the  boy  with  you,  Griffith — ask  him 
what  his  young  eyes  have  seen." 

"  Shall  I  !"  cried  the  young  midshipman,  laugh 
ing  ;  "  then  I  have  seen  a  little  clipper,  in  disguise, 
outsail  an  old  man-of-*».  ar's-man  in  a  hard  chase, 
and  I  have  seen  a  straggling  rover  in  long-togs  as 
much  like  my  cousin — " 

"  Peace,  gabbler !"  exclaimed  Barnstable,  in  a 
voice  of  thunder ;  "  would  you  detain  the  boats 
with  your  silly  nonsense,  at  a  time  like  this? 
Away  into  the  barge,  sir,  and  if  you  find  him  will 
ing  to  hear,  tell  Sir.  Griffith  what  your  foolish 
conjectures  amourrt  to,  at  your  leisure." 

The  boy  stepped  lightly  from  the  whale-boat  to 
the  barge,  whither  the  pilot  had  already  preceded 
him,  and,  as  he  sunk,  with  a  mortified  air,  by  the 
side  of  Griffith,  he  said,  in  a  low  voice — 

"  And  that  won't  be  long,  I  know,  if  Mr.  Grif 
fith  thinks  and  feels  on  the  coast  of  England  as  he 
thought  and  felt  at  home." 

A  silent  pressure  of  his  hand  was  the  only  reply 
that  the  young  lieutenant  made,  before  he  paid  the 
parting  compliments  to  Barnstable,  and  directed 
his  men  to  pull  for  their  ship. 

The  boats  were  separating,  and  the  plash  of  the 
oars  was  already  heard,  when  the  voice  of  the  pi 
lot  was  for  the  first  time  raised  in  earnest. 

"  Hold  !"  he  cried  ;  "  hold  water,  I  bid  ye  !" 

The  men  ceased  their  efforts,  at  the  command- 


36  THE    PILOT. 

ing  tones  of  his  voice,  and  turning  towards  the 
whale-boat,  he  continued — 

"  You  will  get  your  schooner  under-way  imme 
diately,  Captain  Barnstable,  and  sweep  into  the 
offing,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible.  Keep  the 
ship  well  open  from  the  northern  headland,  and  as 
you  pass  us,  come  within  hail." 

"  This  is  a  clean  chart  and  plain  sailing,  Mr.  Pi 
lot,"  returned  Barnstable  ;  "  but  who  is  to  justify 
my  moving  without  orders,  to  Captain  Munson  ? 
I  have  it  in  black  and  white,  to  run  the  Ariel  in 
to  this  feather-bed  sort  of  a  place,  and  I  must  at  least 
have  it  by  signal  or  word  of  mouth  from  my  bet 
ters,  before  my  cut-water  curls  another  wave. 
The  road  may  be  as  hard  to  find  going  out  as  it  was 
coming  in — and  then  I  had  daylight  as  well  as  your 
written  directions  to  steer  by." 

"  Would  you  lie  there  to  perish  on  such  a  night !" 
said  the  pilot,  sternly.  "  Two  hours  hence,  this 
heavy  swell  will  break  where  your  vessel  now 
rides  so  quietly." 

"  There  we  think  exactly  alike  ;  but  if  I  get 
drowned  now,  I  am  drowned  according  to  or 
ders  ;  whereas,  if  I  knock  a  plank  out  of  the 
schooner's  bottom,  by  following  your  directions, 
'twill  be  a  hole  to  let  in  mutiny,  as  well  as  sea-wa 
ter.  How  do  I  know  but  the  old  man  wants  an 
other  pilot  or  two  ?" 

"  That's  philosophy,"  muttered  the  cockswain 
of  the  whale-boat,  in  a  voice  that  was  audible  • 
"  but  it's  a  hard  strain  on  a  man's  conscience  to 
hold  on  in  such  an  anchorage !" 

"  Then  keep  your  anchor  down,  and  follow  it 
to  the  bottom,"  said  the  pilot  to  himself;  "it's 
worse  to  contend  with  a  fool  than  a  gale  of  wind , 
but  if—"  * 


THE    PILOT.  37 

kt  No.  no,  sir — no  fool  neither,"  interrupted 
Griffith  "  Barnstable  does  not  deserve  that  epi 
thet,  though  he  certainly  carries  the  point  of  duty 
to  the  extreme.  Heave  up  at  once,  Mr.  Barnsta 
ble,  and  get  out  of  this  bay  as  fast  as  possible." 

"  Ah,  you  don't  give  the  order  with  half  the 
pleasure  with  which  I  shall  execute  it ;  pull  away 
boys — the  Ariel  shall  never  lay  her  bones  in  such 
a  hard  bed,  if  I  can  help  it." 

As  the  commander  of  the  schooner  uttered  these 
words  with  a  cheering  voice,  his  men  spontaneous 
ly  shouted,  and  the  whale-boat  darted  away  from 
her  companion,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the  gloomy 
shadows  cast  from  the  cliffs. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  oarsmen  of  the  barge  were 
not  idle,  but  by  strenuous  efforts  they  forced  the 
heavy  boat  rapidly  through  the  water,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  she  ran  alongside  of  the  frigate.  During 
this  period  the  pilot,  in  a  voice  which  had  lost  all 
the  startling  fierceness  and  authority  it  had  mani 
fested  in  his  short  dialogue  with  Barnstable,  re 
quested  Griffith  to  repeat  to  him,  slowly,  the  names 
of  the  officers  that  belonged  to  his  ship.  When 
the  young  lieutenant  had  complied  with  this  re 
quest,  he  observed  to  his  companion — 

"  All  good  men  and  true,  Mr.  Pilot ;  and  though 
this  business  in  which  you  are  just  now  engaged 
may  be  hazardous  to  an  Englishman,  there  are 
none  with  us  who  will  betray  you.  We  need  your 
services,  and  as  we  expect  good  faith  from  you,  so 
shall  we  offer  it  to  you  in  exchange." 

"  And  how  know  you  that  I  need  its  exercise  ?" 
asked  the  pilot,  in  a  manner  that  denoted  a  cold 
indifference  to  the  subject. 

"  Why,  though  you  talk  pretty  good  English, 
for  a  native,"  returned  Griffith,  "  yet  you  have  a 
small  bur-r-r  in  your  mouth  that  would  prick  the 
4 


38  THE    PILOT. 

tongue  of  a  man  who  was  born  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic." 

"  It  is  but  of  little  moment  where  a  man  is  born, 
or  how  he  speaks,"  returned  the  pilot,  coldly,  "  so 
that  he  does  his  duty  bravely,  and  in  good  faith." 

It  was  perhaps  fortunate  for  the  harmony  of  this 
dialogue,  that  the  gloom,  which  had  now  increased 
to  positive  darkness,  completely  concealed  the  look 
of  scornful  irony  that  crossed  the  handsome  features 
of  the  young  sailor,  as  he  replied — 

"  True,  true,  so  that  he  does  his  duty,  as  you 
say,  in  good  faith.  But,  as  Barnstable  observed, 
you  must  know  your  road  well  to  travel  among 
these  shoals  on  such  a  night  as  this.  Know  you 
what  water  we  draw  ?" 

"  'Tis  a  frigate's  draught,  and  I  shall  endeavour 
to  keep  you  in  four  fathoms  ;  less  than  that  would 
be  dangerous." 

"  She's  a  sweet  boat !"  said  Griffith ;  «  and  minds 
her  helm  as  a  marine  watches  the  eye  of  his  ser 
geant  at  a  drill ;  but  you  must  give  her  room  in 
stays,  for  she  fore-reaches,  as  if  she  would  put  out 
the  wind's  eye." 

The  pilot  attended,  with  a  practised  ear,  to  this 
description  of  the  qualities  of  the  ship  that  he  was 
about  to  attempt  extricating  from  an  extremely 
dangerous  situation.  Not  a  syllable  was  lost  on 
him  ;  and  when  Griffith  had  ended,  he  remarked, 
with  the  singular  coldness  that  pervaded  his  man 
ner — 

"  That  is  both  a  good  and  a  bad  quality  in  a  nar 
row  channel.  I  fear  it  will  be  the  latter,  to-night, 
when  we  shall  require  to  have  the  ship  in  leading 
strings." 

"  I  suppose  we  must  feel  our  way  with  the 
lead  ?"  said  Griffith. 

"  We  shall  need  both  eyes  and  leads,"  returned 


THE    PILOT.  39 

the  pilot,  lecurring  insensibly  to  his  soliloquizing 
tone  of  voice.  "  I  have  been  both  in  and  out  in 
darker  nights  than  this,  though  never  with  a  heavi 
er  draught  than  a  half-two." 

"  Then,  by  heaven,  you  are  not  fit  to  handle  that 
ship  among  these  rocks  and  breakers  !"  exclaimed 
Griffith  ;  "  your  men  of  a  light  draught  never  know 
their  water ;  'tis  the  deep  keel  only,  that  finds  a 
channel — pilot  !  pilot !  beware  how  you  trifle  with 
us  ignorantly ;  for  'tis  a  dangerous  experiment  to 
play  at  hazards  with  an  enemy." 

"  Young  man,  you  know  not  what  you  threaten, 
nor  whom,"  said  the  pilot,  sternly,  though  his 
quiet  manner  still  remained  undisturbed  ;  u  you 
forget  that  you  have  a  superior  here,  and  that  I 
have  none." 

"  That  shall  be  as  you  discharge  your  duty," 
cried  Griffith  ;  "  for  if—" 

"  Peace  !"  interrupted  the  pilot,  "  we  approach 
the  ship  ;  let  us  enter  in  harmony." 

He  threw  himself  back  on  the  cushions,  when 
he  had  said  this,  and  Griffith,  though  filled  with 
the  apprehensions  of  suffering,  either  by  great  ig 
norance,  or  treachery,  on  the  part  of  his  companion, 
smothered  his  feelings  so  far  as  to  be  silent,  and 
they  ascended  the  side  of  the  vessel  in  apparent 
cordiality. 

The  frigate  was  already  riding  on  lengthened 
seas,  that  rolled  in  from  the  ocean,  at  each  succes 
sive  moment,  with  increasing  violence,  though  her 
topsails  still  hung  supinely  from  her  yards ;  the 
air,  which  continued  to  breathe,  occasionally,  from 
the  land,  being  unable  to  shake  the  heavy  canvass 
of  which  they  were  composed. 

The  only  sounds  that  were  audible,  when  Grif 
fith  and  the  pilot  had  ascended  to  the  gangway 


40  THE    PILOT. 

of  the  frigate,  were  produced  by  the  sullen  dash 
ing  of  the  sea  against  the  massive  bows  of  the 
ship,  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  boatswain's 
mate,  as  he  recalled  the  side-boys,  who  were 
placed  on  either  side  of  the  gangway,  to  do  ho 
nour  to  the  entrance  of  the  first  lieutenant  and  his 
companion. 

But  though  such  a  profound  silence  reigned 
among  the  hundreds  who  inhabited  the  huge  fa 
bric,  the  light  produced  by  a  dozen  battle  lanterns, 
that  were  arranged  in  different  parts  of  the  decks, 
served  not  only  to  exhibit,  fautly,  the  persons  of 
the  crftw,  but  the  mingled  feeling  of  curiosity  and 
care  that  dwelt  on  most  of  their  countenances. 

Large  groups  of  men  were  collected  in  the  gang 
ways,  around  the  mainmast,  and  on  the  booms  of 
the  vessel,  whose  faces  were  distinctly  visible, 
while  numerous  figures,  lying  along  the  lower 
yards,  or  bending  out  of  the  tops,  might  be  dimly 
traced  in  the  back  ground,  all  of  whom  expressed, 
by  their  attitudes,  the  interest  they  took  in  the  ar 
rival  of  the  boat. 

Though  such  crowds  were  collected  in  other 
parts  of  the  vessel,  the  quarter-deck  was  occupied 
only  by  the  officers,  who  were  disposed  according 
to  their  several  ranks,  and  were  equally  silent  and 
attentive  as  the  remainder  of  the  crew.  In  front 
stood  a  small  collection  of  young  men,  who,  by 
their  similarity  of  dress,  were  the  equals  and  com 
panions  of  Griffith,  though  his  juniors  in  rank.  On 
the  opposite  side  of  the  vessel  was  a  larger  assem 
blage  of  youths,  who  claimed  Mr.  Merry  as  their 
fellow.  Around  the  capstan,  three  or  four  figures 
were  standing,  one  of  whom  wore  a  coat  of  blue, 
with  the  scarlet  facings  of  a  soldier,  and  another 
the  black  vestments  of  the  ship's  chaplain.  Be 


THE    PILOT.  41 

hind  these,  and  nearer  the  passage  to  the  cabin, 
from  which  he  had  just  ascended,  stood  the  tall, 
erect  form  of  the  commander  of  the  vessel. 

After  a  brief  salutation  between  Griffith  and  the 
junior  officers,  the  former  advanced,  followed  slow 
ly  by  the  pilot,  to  the  place  where  he  was  expect 
ed  by  his  veteran  commander.  The  young  man  re 
moved  his  hat  entirely,  as  he  bowed  with  a  little 
more  than  his  usual  ceremony,  and  said — 

u  We  have  succeeded,  sir,  though  not  without 
more  difficulty  and  delay  than  were  anticipated." 

"  But  you  have  not  brought  off  the  pilot,"  said 
the  captain,  "  and  without  him,  all  our  risk  and 
trouble  have  been  in  vain." 

"  He  is  here,"  said  Griffith,  stepping  aside,  and 
extending  his  arm  towards  the  man  that  stood  be 
hind  him,  wrapped  to  the  chin  in  his  coarse  pee- 
jacket,  and  his  face  shadowed  by  the  falling  rims 
of  a  large  hat,  that  had  seen  much  and  hard  ser 
vice. 

"  This  !"  exclaimed  the  captain  ;  "  then  there 
is  a  sad  mistake — this  is  not  the  man  I  would  have 
seen,  nor  can  another  supply  his  place." 

"  I  know  not  whom  you  expected,  Captain  Mun- 
son,"  said  the  stranger,  in  a  low,  quiet  voice  ; "  but 
if  you  have  not  forgotten  the  day  when  a  very  dif 
ferent  flag  from  that  emblem  of  tyranny  that  now 
hangs  over  yon  tafferel  was  first  spread  to  the 
wind,  you  may  remember  the  hand  that  raised  it." 

"  Bring  here  the  light !"  exclaimed  the  com 
mander,  hastily. 

When  the  lantern  was  extended  towards  the  pi 
lot,  and  the  glare  fell  strong  on  his  features,  Cap 
tain  Munson  started,  as  he  beheld  the  cairn  blue 
eye  that  met  his  gaze,  and  the  composed  but  pal 
lid  countenance  of  the  other.  Involuntarily  raising 
4* 


42  THE    PILOT. 

his  hat,  and  baring  his  silver  locks,  the  veteran 
cried — 

"  It  is  he  !  though  so  changed — " 

u  That  his  enemies  did  not  know  him,"  inter 
rupted  the  pilot,  quickly  ;  then  touching  the  other 
by  the  arm  as  he  led  him  aside,  he  continued,  in  a 
lower  tone,  "  neither  must  his  friends,  until  the 
proper  hour  shall  arrive." 

Griffith  had  fallen  back,  to  answer  the  eager 
questions  of  his  messmates,  and  no  part  of  this 
short  dialogue  was  overheard  by  the  officers, 
though  it  was  soon  perceived  that  their  command 
er  had  discovered  his  error,  and  was  satisfied  that 
the  proper  man  had  been  brought  on  board  his  ves 
sel.  For  many  minutes  the  two  continued  to  pace 
a  part  of  the  quarter-deck,  by  themselves,  engaged 
in  deep  and  earnest  discourse. 

As  Griffith  had  but  little  to  communicate,  the 
curiosity  of  his  listeners  was  soon  appeased,  and 
all  eyes  were  directed  towards  that  mysterious 
guide,  who  W7as  to  conduct  them  from  a  situation 
already  surrounded  by  perils,  which  each  moment 
not  only  magnified  in  appearance,  but  increased 
in  reality. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


"  Behold  the  threaden  sails, 

Borne  with  the  invisible  and  creeping  winds, 
Draw  the  huge  bottoms  through  the  furrowed  sea, 
Breasting  the  lofty  surge." 

Shakspcare. 


IT  has  been  already  explained  to  the  reader, 
that  there  were  threatening  symptoms  in  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  weather  to»  create  serious  fore 
bodings  of  evil  in  the  breast  of  a  seaman.  When 
removed  from  the  shadows  of  the  cliffs,  the  night 
was  not  so  dark  but  objects  could  be  discerned  at 
some  little  distance,  and  in  the  eastern  horizon 
there  was  a  streak  of  fearful  light  impending  over 
the  gloomy  waters,  in  wrhich  the  swelling  outline 
formed  by  the  rising  waves  was  becoming  each 
moment  more  distinct,  and,  consequently,  more 
alarming.  Several  dark  clouds  overhung  the  ves 
sel,  whose  towering  masts  apparently  propped  the 
black  vapour,  while  a  few  stars  were  seen  twin 
kling,  with  a  sickly  flame,  in  the  streak  of  clear 
sky  that  skirted  the  ocean.  Still,  light  currents 
of  air,  occasionally,  swept  across  the  bay,  bringing 
with  them  the  fresh  odour  from  the  shore,  but 
their  flitting  irregularity  too  surely  foretold  them 
to  be  the  expiring  breath  of  the  land  breeze.  The 
roaring  of  the  surf,  as  it  rolled  on  the  margin  ol 
the  bay,  produced  a  dull,  monotonous  sound,  that 


44  THE    PILOT. 

was  only  interrupted,  at  times,  by  a  hollow  bellow 
ing,  as  a  larger  wave  than  usual  broke  violently 
against  some  cavity  in  the  rocks.  Every  thing,  in 
short,  united  to  render  the  scene  gloomy  and  por 
tentous,  without  creating  instant  terror,  for  the 
ship  rose  easily  on  the  long  billows,  without  even 
straightening  the  heavy  cable  that  held  her  to  her 
anchor. 

The  higher  officers  were  collected  around  the 
capstan,  engaged  in  earnest  discourse  about  their 
situation  and  prospects,  while  some  of  the  oldest 
and  most  favoured  seamen  would  extend  their 
short  walk  to  the  hallowed  precincts  of  the  quar 
ter-deck,  to  catch,  with  greedy  ears,  the  opinions 
that  fell  from  their  superiors.  Numberless  were 
the  uneasy  glances  that  were  thrown  from  both  of 
ficers  and  men  at  their  commander  and  the  pilot, 
who  still  continued  their  secret  communion  in  a 
distant  part  of  the  vessel.  Once,  an  ungovernable 
curiosity,  or  the  heedlessness  of  his  years,  led  one 
of  the  youthful  midshipmen  near  them,  but  a  stern 
rebuke  from  his  captain  sent  the  boy,  abashed  and 
cowering,  to  hide  his  mortification  among  his  fel 
lows.  This  reprimand  was  received  by  the  elder 
officers  as  an  intimation  that  the  consultation  which 
they  beheld  was  to  be  strictly  inviolate  ;  and, 
though  it  by  no  means  suppressed  the  repeated  ex 
pressions  of  their  impatience,  it  effectually  pre 
vented  an  interruption  to  the  communications, 
which  all,  however,  thought  were  Unreasonably 
protracted  for  the  occasion. 

"  This  is  no  time  to  be  talking  over  bearings 
and  distances,"  observed  the  officer  next  in  rank 
to  Griffith ;  "  but  we  should  call  the  hands  up,  and 
try  to  kedge  her  off  while  the  sea  will  suffer  a  boat 
to  live." 

"  'Twould  be  a  tedious  and  bootless  job  to  at- 


THE    PILOT.  45 

w*rpmg  a  ship  for  miles  against  a  head-beat 
ing  sezs"  returned  the  first  lieutenant ;  "  but  the 
land-breeze  yet  flutters  aloft,  and  if  our  light  sails 
\\  ould  draw,  with  the  aid  of  this  ebb  tide  we  might 
be  able  to  shove  her  from  the  shore." 

'-  Hail  the  tops,  Griffith,"  said  the  other,  l  and 
ask  if  they  feel  the  air  above  ;  'twill  be  a  hint  at 
least  to  set  the  old  man  and  that  lubberly  pilot  in 
motion." 

Griffith  laughed,  as  he  complied  with  the  re 
quest,  and  when  he  received  the  customary  reply 
to  his  call,  he  demanded,  in  a  loud  voice — 

"  Which  way  have  you  the  wind,  aloft  ?" 

"  We  feel  a  light  cat's-paw,  now  and  then,  from 
the  land,  sir,"  returned  the  sturdy  captain  of  the 
top ;  "  but  our  topsail  hangs  in  the  clewlines,  sir, 
without  winking." 

Captain  Munson  and  his  companion  suspended 
their  discourse,  while  this  question  and  answer 
were  exchanged,  and  then  resumed  their  dialogue 
as  earnestly  as  if  it  had  received  no  interruption. 

"  If  it  did  wink,  the  hint  would  be  lost  on  our 
betters,"  said  the  officer  of  the  marines,  whose  ig 
norance  of  seamanship  added  greatly  to  his  percep 
tion  of  the  danger,  but  who,  from  pure  idleness, 
made  more  jokes  than  any  other  man  in  the  ship. 
u  That  pilot  will  not  receive  a  delicate  intimation 
through  his  ears,  Mr.  Griffith  ;  suppose  you  try 
him  by  the  nose." 

"  Faith,  there  was  a  flash  of  gunpowder  between 
us  in  the  barge,"  returned  the  first  lieutenant. 
'c  and  he  does  not  seem  a  man  to  stomach- such 
hints  as  you  advise.  Although  he  looks  so  meek 
and  quiet,  I  doubt  whether  he  has  paid  much  at 
tention  to  the  book  of  Job." 

"  Why  should  he,"  exclaimed  the  chaplain, 
whose  apprehensions  at  least  equalled  those  of  the 


46  THE    PILOT. 

marine,  and  with  a  much  more  disheartening  effect, 
"  I'm  sure  it  would  have  been  a  great  waste  of 
time  ;  there  are  so  many  charts  of  the  coast,  and 
books  on  the  navigation  of  these  seas,  for  him  to 
study,  that  I  sincerely  hope  he  has  been  much  bet 
ter  employed." 

A  loud  laugh  was  created  at  this  speech,  among 
the  listeners,  and  it  apparently  produced  the  ef 
fect  that  was  so  long  anxiously  desired,  by  putting 
an  end  to  the  mysterious  conference  between  their 
captain  and  the  pilot.  As  the  former  came  for 
ward  towards  his  expecting  crew,  he  said,  in  the 
composed,  steady  manner,  that  formed  the  princi 
pal  trait  in  his  character — 

"  Get  the  anchor,  Mr.  Griffith,  and  make  sail  on 
the  ship ;  the  hour  has  arrived  when  we  must  be 
moving." 

The  cheerful  "  ay !  ay  !  sir !"  of  the  young 
lieutenant  was  hardly  uttered,  before  the  cries  of 
half  a  dozen  midshipmen  were  heard  summoning 
the  boatswain  and  his  mates  to  their  duty. 

There  was  a  general  movement  in  the  living 
masses  that  clustered  around  the  mainmast,  on  the 
booms,  and  in  the  gangways,  though  their  habits 
of  discipline  held  the  crew  a  moment  longer  in 
suspense.  The  silence  was  first  broken  by  the 
sound  of  the  boatswain's  whistle,  followed  by  the 
hoarse  cry  of  "  all  hands,  up  anchor,  ahoy  !" — the 
former  rising  on  the  night  air,  from  its  first  low, 
mellow  notes,  to  a  piercing  shrillness,  that  gradu 
ally  died  away  on  the  waters  ;  and  the  latter  bel 
lowing  through  every  cranny  of  the  ship,  like  the 
hollow  murmurs  of  distant  thunder. 

The  change  produced  by  the  customary  sum* 
mons  was  magical.  Human  beings  sprang  out  from 
between  the  guns,  rushed  up  the  hatches,  threw 
themselves  with  careless  activity  from  the  booms, 


THE    PILOT.  47 

and  gathered  from  every  quarter  so  rapidly,  that, 
in  an  instant,  the  deck  of  the  frigate  was  alive  with 
men.  The  profound  silence,  that  had  hitherto 
been  only  interrupted  by  the  low  dialogue  of  the 
officers,  was  now  exchanged  for  the  stern  orders 
of  the  lieutenants,  mingled  with  the  shriller  cries 
of  the  midshipmen,  and  the  hoarse  bawling  of  the 
boatswain's  crew,  rising  above  the  tumult  of  pre 
paration  and  general  bustle. 

The  captain  and  the  pilot  alone  remained  pas 
sive,  in  this  scene  of  general  exertion ;  for  appre 
hension  had  even  stimulated  that  class  of  officers 
which  is  called  "  idlers,"  to  unusual  activity,  though 
frequently  reminded  by  their  more  experienced 
messmates,  that  instead  of  aiding,  they  retarded, 
the  duty  of  the  vessel.  The  bustle,  however, 
gradually  ceased,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  the  same 
silence  pervaded  the  ship  as  before. 

"  We  are  brought-to,  sir,"  said  Griffith,  who 
stood  overlooking  the  scene,  holding  in  one  hand 
a  short  speaking  trumpet,  and  grasping,  with  the 
other,  one  of  the  shrouds  of  the  ship,  to  steady 
himself  in  the  position  he  had  taken  on  a  gun. 

"  Heave  round,  sir,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

"  Heave  round  !"  repeated  Griffith,  aloud. 

"  Heave  round  !"  echoed  a  dozen  eager  voices 
at  once,  and  the  lively  strains  of  a  fife  struck  up  a 
brisk  air,  to  enliven  the  labour.  The  capstan  was 
instantly  set  in  motion,  and  the  measured  tread  of 
the  seamen  was  heard,  as  they  stamped  the  deck 
in  the  circle  of  their  march.  For  a  few  minutes, 
no  other  sounds  were  heard,  if  we  except  the  voice 
of  an  officer,  occasionally,  cheering  the  sailors, 
when  it  was  announced,  that  they  "  were  short ;" 
or,  in  other  words,  that  the  ship  was  nearly  over 
her  anchor. 

"  Heave  and  pall,"  cried  Griffith  ;   when  the 


48 


THE    PILOT. 


quivering  notes  of  the  whistle  were  again  succeed 
ed  by  a  general  stillness  in  the  vessel, 

"  What  is  to  be  done  now,  sir  ?"  continued  the 
lieutenant ;  "  shall  we  trip  the  anchor  ?  There 
seems  not  a  breath  of  air,  and  as  the  tide  runs 
slack,  I  doubt  whether  the  sea  do  not  heave  the 
ship  ashore." 

There  was  so  much  obvious  truth  in  this  con 
jecture,  that  all  eyes  turned  from  the  light  and 
animation  afforded  by  the  decks  of  the  frigate,  to 
look  abroad  on  the  waters,  in  a  vain  desire  to 
pierce  the  darkness,  as  if  to  read  the  fate  of  their 
apparently  devoted  ship,  from  the  aspect  of  na 
ture. 

"  I  leave  all  to  the  pilot,"  said  the  captain,  after 
he  had  stood  a  short  time  by  the  side  of  Griffith, 
anxiously  studying  the  heavens  and  the  ocean. 
u  What  say  you,  Mr.  Gray  ?" 

The  man  who  was,  thus,  first  addressed  by  name, 
was  leaning  over  the  bulwarks,  with  his  eyes  bent 
in  the  same  direction  as  the  others  ;  but  as  he  an 
swered,  he  turned  his  face  towards  the  speaker, 
and  the  light  from  the  deck  fell  full  upon  his  quiet 
features,  which  exhibited  a  calmness  bordering  on 
the  supernatural,  considering  his  station  and  re 
sponsibility. 

"  There  is  much  to  fear  from  this  heavy  ground 
swell,"  he  said,  in  the  same  unmoved  tones  as  be 
fore  ;  "  but  there  is  certain  destruction  to  us,  if  the 
gale  that  is  brewing  in  the  east  finds  us  waiting  its 
fury  in  this  wild  anchorage.     All  the  hemp  that 
was  ever  spun  into  cordage  would  not  hold  a  ship 
an  hour,  chafing  on  these  rocks,  with  a  north-caster 
pouring  its  fury  on  her.     If  the  powers  of  man  can 
compass  it,  gentlemen,  we  must  get  an  offing,  and 
that  speedily." 

"  You  say  no  more,  sir,  than  the  youngest  boy 


THE    PILOT.          •  49 

in  the  ship  can  see  for  himself,"  said  Griffith — "  ha  ! 
here  comes  the  schooner  !" 

The  dashing  of  the  long  sweeps  in  the  water 
was  now  plainly  audible,  and  the  little  Ariel  was 
seen  through  the  gloom,  moving  heavily  under 
their  feeble  impulse.  As  she  passed  t  owly  under 
the  stern  of  the  frigate,  the  cheerful  voice  of  Barn- 
stable  was  first  heard,  opening  the  communications 
between  them. 

"  Here's  a  night  for  spectacles,  Captain  Mun- 
son  !"  he  cried ;  "  but  I  thought  1  heard  your  fife, 
sir ;  I  trust  in  God,  you  do  not  mean  to  ride  it  out 
here  till  mornmg  ?" 

"  I  like  the  birth  as  little  as  yourself,  Mr.  Barn- 
stable,"  returned  the  veteran  seaman,  in  his  calm 
manner,  in  which  anxiety  was,  however,  begin 
ning  to  grow  evident.  "  We  are  short ;  but  are 
afraid  to  let  go  our  hold  of  the  bottom,  lest  the  sea 
cast  us  ashore.  How  make  you  out  the  wind  ?" 

"  Wind !"  echoed  the  other ;  "  there  is  not 
enough  to  blow  a  lady's  cuil  aside.  If  you  wait, 
sir,  till  the  land  breeze  fills  your  sails,  you  will 
wak  another  moon,  I  believe.  I've  got  my  egg 
shell  out  of  that  nest  of  gray-caps,  but  how  it  has 
been  done  in  the  dark,  a  better  man  than  myself 
must  explain." 

"  Take  your  directions  from  the  pilot,  Mr.  Barn- 
stable,"  returned  his  commanding  officer,  "  and 
follow  them  strictly  and  to  the  letter." 

A  death-like  silence,  in  both  vessels,  succeeded 
this  order,  for  all  seemed  to  listen  eagerly  to  catch 
the  words  that  fell  from  the  man,  on  whom,  ever, 
the  boys  now  felt,  depended  their  only  hopes  for 
safety.  A  short  time  was  suffered  to  elapse,  be 
fore  his  voice  was  heard,  in  the  same  low  but  dis 
tinct  tones  as  before — 

"  Your  sweeps  will  soon  be  of  no  service   to 
5 


50  THE    PILOT. 

you."  he  said,  "  against  the  sea  that  begins  to 
heave  in  ;  but  your  light  sails  will  help  them  to 
get  you  out.  So  long  as  you  can  head  east-and- 
by-north,  you  are  doing  well,  and  you  can  stand 
on  till  you  open  the  light  from  that  northern 
headland,  when  you  can  heave  to,  and  fire  a 
gun  ;  but  if,  as  I  dread,  you  are  struck  aback, 
before  you  open  the  light,  you  may  trust  to  your 
lead  on  the  larboard  tack  ;  but  beware,  with  your 
head  to  the  southward,  for  no  lead  will  serve  you 
there." 

"  I  can  walk  over  the  same  ground  on  one  tack 
as  on  the  other,"  said  Barnstable,  u  and  make  both 
legs  of  a  length." 

"  R  will  not  do,"  returned  the  pilot.  "  If  you 
fall  off  a  point  to  starboard  from  east-and-by-north} 
in  going  large,  you  will  find  both  rocks  and  points 
of  shoals  to  bring  you  up ;  and  beware,  as  I  tell 
you,  of  the  starboard  tack." 

"  And  how  shall  I  find  my  way  ?  you  will  let 
me  trust  to  neither  time,  lead,  nor  log." 

"  You  must  trust  to  a  quick  eye  and  a  ready 
hand.  The  breakers  only  will  show  you  the  dan 
gers,  when  you  are  not  able  to  make  out  the  bear 
ings  of  the  land.  Tack  in  season,  sir,  and  don't 
spare  the  lead,  when  you  head  to-port." 

"  Ay,  ay,"  returned  Barnstable,  in  a  low  mut 
tering  voice.  "  This  is  a  sort  of  blind  navigation 
with  a  vengeance,  and  all  for  no  purpose  that  I  can 
see — see !  damme,  eyesight  is  of  about  as  much 
use  now,  as  a  man's  nose  would  be  in  reading  the 
Bible." 

"  Softly,  softly,  Mr.  Barnstable,"  interrupted  his 
commander,  for  such  was  the  anxious  stillness  in 
both  vessels,  that  even  the  rattling  of  the  schoon 
ers  rigging  was  heard,  as  she  rolled  in  the  trough 
of  the  sea — "  the  duty  on  which  Congress  has 


THE    PTL.OT.  51 

sent  us  must  be  performed  at  the  hazard  of  our 
lives." 

"  I  don't  mind  my  life,  Captain  Munson,"  said 
Barnstable ;  "  but  there  is  a  great  want  of  con 
science  in  trusting  a  vessel  in  such  a  place  as  this. 
However,  it  is  a  time  to  do,  and  not  to  talk.  But 
if  there  be  such  danger  to  an  easy  draught  of 
water,  what  will  become  of  the  frigate  ?  had  I 
not  better  play  jackall,  and  try  and  feel  the  way 
for  you  ?" 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  the  pilot ;  "  the  offer  is 
generous,  but  would  avail  us  nothing.  I  have  the 
advantage  of  knowing  the  ground  well,  and  must 
trust  to  my  memory  and  God's  good  favour.  Make 
sail,  make  sail,  sir,  and  if  you  succeed,  we  will  ven 
ture  to  break  ground." 

The  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  in  a  very 
short  time,  the  Ariel  was  covered  with  canvass. 
Though  no  air  was  perceptible  on  the  decks  of 
the  frigate,  the  little  schooner  was  so  light,  that 
she  succeeded  in  stemming  her  way  over  the  ris 
ing  waves,  aided  a  little  by  the  tide,  and  in  a  few 
minutes,  her  low  hull  was  just  discernible  in  the 
streak  of  light  along  the  horizon,  writh  the  dark 
outline  of  her  sails  rising  above  the  sea,  until 
their  fanciful  summits  w-ere  lost  in  the  shadows  of 
the  clouds. 

Griffith  had  listened  to  the  foregoing  dialogue, 
like  the  rest  of  the  junior  officers,  in  profound  si 
lence  ;  but  when  the  Ariel  began  to  grow  indis 
tinct  to  the  eye,  he  jumped  lightly  from  the  gun 
to  the  deck,  and  cried — 

"  She  slips  off,  like  a  vessel  from  the  stocks ! 
shall  I  trip  the  anchor,  sir,  and  follow  ?" 

"  We  have  no  choice,"  replied  his  captain. 
il  You  hear  the  question,  Mr  Gray  ?  shall  we  let 
go  the  bottom  ?" 


THE    PILOT. 

"  It  must  be  done,  Captain  Munson  ;  we  may 
want  more  drift  than  the  rest  of  this  tide  to  get  us 
to  a  place  of  safety,"  said  the  pilot ;  "  I  would  give 
five  years  from  a  life,  that  I  know  will  be  short,  if 
the  ship  lay  one  mile  further  seaward." 

This  remark  was  unheard  by  all,  excepting  the 
commander  of  the  frigate,  who  again  walked  aside 
with  the  pilot,  where  they  resumed  their  mysteri 
ous  communications.  The  words  of  assent  were 
no  sooner  uttered,  however,  than  Griffith  gave 
forth  from  his  trumpet  the  command  to  "heave 
away  !"  Again  the  strains  of  the  fife  were  followed 
by  the  tread  of  the  men  at  the  capstan.  At  the 
same  time  that  the  anchor  was  heaving  up,  the  sails 
were  loosened  from  the  yards,  and  opened  to  invite 
the  breeze.  In  effecting  this  duty,  orders  were 
thundered  through  the  trumpet  of  the  first  lieute 
nant,  and  executed  with  the  rapidity  of  thought. 
Men  were  to  be  seen,  like  spots  in  the  dim  light 
from  the  heavens,  lying  on  every  yard,  or  hanging 
as  in  air,  while  strange  cries  were  heard  issuing 
from  every  part  of  the  rigging,  and  each  spar  of 
the  vessel.  "  Ready  the  fore-royal,"  cried  a  shrill 
voice,  as  if  from  the  clouds  ;  "  ready  the  fore  yard," 
uttered  the  hoarser  tones  of  a  seaman  beneath  him  ; 
"  all  ready  aft,  sir,"  cried  a  third,  from  another 
quarter  ;  and  in  a  few  moments,  the  order  was 
given  to  "  let  fall." 

The  little  light  which  fell  from  the  sky  was  now 
excluded  by  the  falling  canvass,  and  a  deeper  gloom 
tvas  cast  athwart  the  decks  of  the  ship,  that  served 
to  render  the  brilliancy  of  the  lanterns  even  vivid, 
while  it  gave  to  objects  out-board  a  more  appalling 
and  dreary  appearance  than  before. 

E\*ery  individual,  excepting  the  commander  and 
his  associate,  was  now  earnestly  engaged  in  get 
ting  the  ship  under  way.  The  sounds  of  "  we're 


THE    PILOT.  53 

away,"  were  repeated  by  a  burst  from  fifty  voices, 
and  the  rapid  evolutions  of  the  capstan  announced 
that  nothing  but  the  weight  of  the  anchor  was  to  be 
lifted.  The  hauling  of  cordage,  the  rattling  of 
blocks,  blended  with  the  shrill  calls  of  the  boat 
swain  and  his  mates,  succeeded  ;  and  though  to  a 
landsman  all  would  have  appeared  confusion  and 
hurry,  long  practice  and  strict  discipline  enabled 
the  crew  to  exhibit  their  ship  under  a  cloud  of  can 
vass,  from  her  deck  to  the  trucks,  in  less  time  than 
we  have  consumed  in  relating  it. 

For  a  few  minutes,  the  officers  were  not  disap 
pointed  by  the  result,  for  though  the  heavy  sails 
flapped  lazily  against  the  masts,  the  light  duck  on 
the  loftier  spars  swelled  outwardly,  and  the  ship 
began  sensibly  to  yield  to  their  influence. 

"  She  travels !  she  travels  !"  exclaimed  Grif 
fith,  joyously  ;  "  ah  !  the  hussy  !  she  has  as  much 
antipathy  to  the  land  as  any  fish  that  swims :  it  blows 
a  little  gale  aloft,  yet !" 

"  We  feel  its  dying  breath,"  said  the  pilot,  in 
low,  soothing  tones,  but  in  a  manner  so  sudden  as 
to  startle  Griffith,  at  whose  elbow  they  were  un 
expectedly  uttered.  "  Let  us  forget,  young  man, 
every  thing  but  the  number  of  lives  that  depend, 
this  night,  on  your  exertions  and  my  knowledge." 

"  If  you  be  but  half  as  able  to  exhibit  the  one, 
as  I  am  willing  to  make  the  other,  we  shall  do 
well,"  returned  the  lieutenant,  in  the  same  tone. 
a  Remember,  whatever  may  be  your  feelings,  that 
we  are  on  an  enemy's  coast,  and  love  it  not  enough 
to  wish  to  lay  our  bones  there." 

With  this  brief  explanation  they  separated,  the 
vessel  requiring  the  constant  and  close  attention 
of  the  officer  to  her  movements. 

The  exultation  produced  in  the  crew  by  the 
progress  of  their  ship  through  the  water  was  of 


54  THE    PILOT. 

short  duration  ;  for  the  breeze  that  had  seemed  to 
await  their  motions,  after  forcing  the  vessel  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile,  fluttered  for  a  few  minutes  amid 
their  light  canvass,  and  then  left  them  entirely. 
The  quarter-master,  whose  duty  it  was  to  super 
intend  the  helm,  soon  announced  that  he  was  losing 
the  command  of  the  vessel,  as  she  was  no  longer 
obedient  to  her  rudder.  This  ungrateful  intelli 
gence  was  promptly  communicated  to  his  com 
mander  by  Griffith,  who  suggested  the  propriety 
of  again  dropping  an  anchor. 

"  I  refer  you  to  Mr.  Gray,"  returned  the  cap 
tain  ;  "  he  is  the  pilot,  sir,  and  with  him  rests  the 
safety  of  the  vessel." 

"  Pilots  sometimes  lose  ships,  as  well  as  save 
them,"  said  Griffith ;  "  know  you  the  man  well, 
Captain  Munson,  who  holds  all  our  lives  in  his 
keeping,  and  so  coolly  as  if  he  cared  but  little  for 
the  venture  ?" 

"  Mr.  Griffith,  I  do  know  him ;  he  is,  in  my 
opinion,  both  competent  and  faithful.  Thus  much 
I  tell  you,  to  relieve  your  anxiety  ;  more  you  must 
not  ask  ; — but  is  there  not  a  shift  of  wind  ?" 

"  God  forbid  !"  exclaimed  his  lieutenant ;  "  if 
that  north-easter  catches  us  within  the  shoals,  our 
case  will  be  desperate  indeed  !" 

The  heavy  rolling  of  the  vessel  caused  an  occa 
sional  expansion,  and  as  sudden  a  re-action,  in  their 
sails,  which  left  the  oldest  seamen  in  the  ship  in 
doubt  which  way  the  currents  of  air  were  passing, 
or  whether  there  existed  any  that  were  not  created 
by  the  flapping  of  their  own  canvass.  The  head  of  the 
ship,  however,  began  to  fall  off  from  the  sea,  and  not 
withstanding  the  darkness,  it  soon  became  apparent 
that  she  was  driving  in,  bodily,  towards  the  shore, 

During  these  few  minutes  of  gloomy  doubt, 
Griffith,  by  one  of  those  sudden  revulsions  of  the 


THE    PILOT.  55 

mind,,  that  connect  the  opposite  extremes  of  feel 
ing,  lost  his  animated  anxiety,  and  relapsed  into 
the  listless  apathy  that  so  often  came  over  him, 
even  in  the  most  critical  moments  of  trial  and  dan 
ger.  He  was  standing,  with  one  elbow  resting  on 
the  capstan,  shading  his  eyes  from  the  light  of  the 
battle-lantern  that  stood  near  him,  with  one  hand, 
when  he  felt  a  gentle  pressure  of  the  other,  that 
recalled  his  recollection.  Looking  affectionately, 
though  still  recklessly,  at  the  boy  who  stood  at 
his  side,  he  said — 

"  Dull  music,  Mr.  Merry." 

"  So  dull,  sir,  that  I  can't  dance  to  it,"  return 
ed  the  midshipman.  "  Nor  do  I  believe  there  is 
a  man  in  the  ship  who  would  not  rather  hear  '  The 
girl  I  left  behind  me,'  than  those  execrable  sounds." 

"  What  sounds,  boy  !  The  ship  is  as  quiet  as 
the  quaker  meeting  in  the  Jerseys,  before  your 
good  old  grandfather  used  to  break  the  charm  of 
silence  with  his  sonorous  voice." 

"  Ah !  laugh  at  my  peaceable  blood,  if  thou 
wilt,  Mr.  Griffith,"  said  the  arch  youngster ;  "  but 
remember,  there  is  a  mixture  of  it  in  all  sorts  of 
veins.  I  wish  I  could  hear  one  of  the  old  gentle 
man's  chants  now,  sir;  I  could  always  sleep  to 
them,  like  a  gull  in  a  surf.  But  he  that  sleeps  to 
night,  with  that  lullaby,  will  make  a  nap  of  it." 

"  Sounds !  I  hear  no  sounds,  boy,  but  the  flap 
ping  aloft ;  even  that  pilot,  who  struts  the  quarter 
deck  like  an  admiral,  has  nothing  to  say." 

"  Is  not  that  a  sound  to  open  a  seaman's  ear  ?" 

"  It  is  in  truth  a  heavy  roll  of  the  surf,  lad,  but 
the  night  air  carries  it  heavily  to  our  ears.  Know 
you  not  the  sounds  of  the  surf  yet,  younker  ?" 

"  I  know  it  too  well,  Mr.  Griffith,  and  do  not 
wish  to  know  it  better.  How  fast  are  wre  tum 
bling  in  towards  that  surf,  sir  ?" 


56  THE    PILOT. 

"  I  think  we  hold  our  own,"  said  Griffith,  rout 
ing  again  ;  "  though  we  had  better  anchor.  Luff, 
fellow,  luff,  you  are  broadside  to  the  sea  !" 

The  man  at  the  wheel  repeated  his  former  in 
telligence,  adding  a  suggestion,  that  he  thought  the 
ship  "was  gathering  stern- way." 

"  Haul  up  your  courses,  Mr.  Griffith,"  said  Cap 
tain  Munson,  "  arid  let  us  feel  the  wind." 

The  rattling  of  the  blocks  was  soon  heard,  and 
the  enormous  sheets  of  canvass  that  hung  from 
the  lower  yards  were  instantly  suspended  "  in  the 
brails."  When  this  change  was  effected,  all  on 
board  stood  silent  and  breathless,  as  if  expecting 
to  learn  their  fate  by  the  result.  Several  contra 
dictory  opinions  were,  at  length,  hazarded  among 
the  officers,  when  Griffith  seized  the  candle  from 
the  lantern,  and,  springing  on  one  of  the  guns> 
held  it  on  high,  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  air. 
The  little  flame  waved,  with  uncertain  glimmer-- 
ing,  for  a  moment,  and  then  burned  steadily,  in  a 
line  with  the  masts.  Griffith  was  about  to  lower 
his  extended  arm,  when,  feeling  a  slight  sensation 
of  coolness  on  his  hand,  he  paused,  and  the  light 
turned  slowly  towards  the  land,  flared,  flickered, 
and  finally  deserted  the  wick. 

"  Lose  not  a  moment,  Mr.  Griffith,"  cried  the 
pilot  aloud  ;  "  clew  up  and  furl  every  thing  but 
your  three  top-sails,  and  let  them  be  double-reefed. 
Now  is  the  time  to  fulfil  your  promise." 

The  young  man  paused  one  moment,  in  astonish 
ment,  as  the  clear  distinct  tones  of  the  strange? 
struck  his  ears  so  unexpectedly  ;  but  turning  his 
eyes  to  seaward,  he  sprang  on  the  deck,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  obey  the  order,  as  if  life  and  death  de 
pended  on  his  despatch. 


CHAPTER  V. 


•*  She  rights,  she  rights,  boys  !  wear  off  shore ! ' 


THE  extraordinary  activity  of  Griffith,  which 
communicated  itself  with  promptitude  to  the  crew, 
was  produced  by  a  sudden  alteration  in  the  wea 
ther.  In  place  of  the  well-defined  streak  along 
the  horizon,  that  has  been  already  described,  an 
immense  body  of  misty  light  appeared  to  be  mov 
ing  in,  with  rapidity,  from  the  ocean,  while  a  dis 
tinct  but  distant  roaring  announced  the  sure  ap 
proach  of  the  tempest,  that  had  so  long  troubled 
the  waters.  Even  Griffith,  while  thundering  his 
orders  through  the  trumpet,  and  urging  the  men, 
by  his  cries,  to  expedition,  would  pause,  for  in 
stants,  to  cast  anxious  glances  in  the  direction  of 
the  coming  storm  ;  and  the  faces  of  the  sailors  who 
lay  on  the  yards  were  turned,  instinctively,  to 
wards  the  same  quarter  of  the  heavens,  while  they 
knotted  the  reef-points,  or  passed  the  gaskets,  that 
were  to  confine  the  unruly  canvass  to  the  pre 
scribed  limits. 

The  pilot  alone,  in  that  confused  and  busy 
throng,  where  voice  rose  above  voice,  and  cry 
echoed  cry,  in  quick  succession,  appeared  as  if  he 


58  THE    PILOT. 

held  no  interest  in  the  important  stake.  With  his 
eyes  steadily  fixed  on  the  approaching  mist,  and 
his  arms  folded  together  in  composure,  he  stood 
calmly  waiting  the  result. 

The  ship  had  fallen  off,  with  her  broadside  to 
the  sea,  and  was  become  unmanageable,  and  the 
sails  were  already  brought  into  the  folds  necessary 
to  her  security,  when  the  quick  and  heavy  flutter 
ing  of  canvass  was  thrown  across  the  water,  with 
all  the  gloomy  and  chilling  sensations  that  such 
sounds  produce,  where  darkness  and  danger  unite 
to  appal  the  seaman. 

"  The  schooner  has  it !"  cried  Griffith  ;  "  Barn- 
stable  has  held  on,  like  himself,  to  the  last  moment 
— God  send  that  the  squall  leave  him  cloth  enough 
to  keep  him  from  the  shore  !" 

"  His  sails  are  easily  handled,"  the  commander 
observed,  "  and  she  must  be  over  the  principal 
danger.  We  are  falling  off  before  it,  Mr.  Gray  ; 
shall  we  try  a  cast  of  the  lead  ?" 

The  pilot  turned  from  his  contemplative  pos 
ture,  and  moved  slowly  across  the  deck  before  he 
returned  any  reply  to  this  question — like  a  man 
who  not  only  felt  that  every  thing  depended  on 
himself,  but  that  he  was  equal  to  the  emergency. 

"  'Tis  unnecessary,"  he  at  length  said  ;  "  'twould 
be  certain  destruction  to  be  taken  aback,  and  it  is 
difficult  to  say,  within  several  points,  how  the  wind 
may  strike  us." 

"  'Tis  difficult  no  longer,"  cried  Griffith  ;  "  foi 
here  it  comes,  and  in  right  earnest !" 

The  rushing  sounds  of  the  wind  were  now,  in 
deed,  heard  at  hand,  and  the  words  were  hardly 
past  the  lips  of  the  young  lieutenant,  before  the 
vessel  bowed  down  heavily  to  one  side,  and  then, 
as  she  began  to  move  through  the  water,  rose  again 
majestically  to  her  upright  position,  as  if  saluting, 


THE    PILOT.  59 

like  a  courteous  champion,  the  powerful  antagonist 
with  which  she  was  about  to  contend.  Not  ano 
ther  minute  elapsed,  before  the  ship  was  throwing 
the  waters  aside,  with  a  lively  progress,  and,  obe 
dient  to  her  helm,  was  brought  as  near  to  the  de 
sired  course  as  the  direction  of  the  wind  would  al 
low.  The  hurry  and  bustle  on  the  yards  gradual 
ly  subsided,  and  the  men  slowly  descended  to  the 
deck,  all  straining  their  eyes  to  pierce  the  gloom 
in  which  they  were  enveloped,  and  some  shaking 
their  heads,  in  melancholy  doubt,  afraid  to  express 
the  apprehensions  they  really  entertained.  All  on 
board  anxiously  waited  for  the  fury  of  the  gale  ; 
for  there  were  none  so  ignorant  or  inexperienced 
in  that  gallant  frigate,  as  not  to  know,  that  as  yet, 
they  only  felt  the  infant  efforts  of  the  wind.  Each 
moment,  however,  it  increased  in  power,  though 
so  gradual  was  the  alteration,  that  the  relieved 
mariners  began  to  believe  that  all  their  gloomy 
forebodings  were  not  to  be  realized.  During  this 
short  interval  of  uncertainty,  no  other  sounds  were 
heard  than  the  whistling  of  the  breeze,  as  it  pass 
ed  quickly  through  the  mass  of  rigging  that  be 
longed  to  the  vessel,  and  the  dashing  of  the  spray, 
that  began  to  fly  from  her  bows,  like  the  foam  of 
a  cataract. 

"  It  blows  fresh,"  cried  Griffith,  who  was  the 
first  to  speak  in  that  moment  of  doubt  and  anxie 
ty  ;  "  but  it  is  no  more  than  a  cap-full  of  wind, 
after  all.  Give  us  elbow-room,  and  the  right  can 
vass,  Mr.  Pilot,  and  I'll  handle  the  ship  like  a  gen- 
leman's  yacht,  in  this  breeze." 

"  Will  she  stay,  think  ye,  under  this  sail  ?"  said 
the  low  voice  of  the  stranger. 

"  She  will  do  all  that  man,  in  reason,  can  ask 
of  wood  and  iron,"  returned  the  lieutenant ;  "  but 
die  vessel  don't  float  the  ocean  that  will  tack  un 


60  THE    PIL.OT 

der  double-reefed  topsails  alone,  against  a  heavy 
sea.  Help  her  with  the  courses,  pilot,  and  you 
shall  see  her  come  round  like  a  dancing-master." 

"  Let  us  feel  the  strength  of  the  gale  first,"  re 
turned  the  man  who  was  called  Mr.  Gray,  moving 
from  the  side  of  Griffith  to  the  weather  gangway 
of  the  vessel,  where  he  stood  in  silence,  looking 
ahead  of  the  ship,  with  an  air  of  singular  coolness 
and  abstraction. 

All  the  lanterns  had  been  extinguished  on  the 
deck  of  the  frigate,  when  her  anchor  was  secured, 
and  as  the  first  mist  of  the  gale  had  passed  over, 
it  was  succeeded  by  a  faint  light  that  was  a  good 
deal  aided  by  the  glittering  fo^m  of  the  waters, 
which  now  broke  in  white  curls  around  the  vessel, 
in  every  direction.  The  land  could  be  faintly  dis 
cerned,  rising  like  a  heavy  bank  of  black  fog,  above 
the  margin  of  the  waters,  and  was  only  distinguish 
able  from  the  heavens  by  its  deeper  gloom  and  ob 
scurity.  The  last  rope  was  coiled,  and  deposited 
in  its  proper  place,  by  the  seamen,  and  for  several 
minutes  the  stillness  of  death  pervaded  the  crowd 
ed  decks.  It  was  evident  to  every  one,  that  their 
ship  was  dashing  at  a  prodigious  rate  through  the 
waves  ;  and  as  she  was  approaching,  with  such  ve 
locity,  the  quarter  of  the  bay  where  the  shoals  and 
dangers  were  known  to  be  situated,  nothing  but 
the  habits  of  the  most  exact  discipline  could  sup 
press  the  uneasiness  of  the  officers  and  men  with 
in  their  own  bosoms.  At  length  the  voice  of  Cap 
tain  Munson  was  heard,  calling  to  the  pilot. 

"  Shall  I  send  a  hand  into  the  chains,  Mr.  Gray,'* 
he  said,  "  and  try  our  water  ?" 

Although  this  question  was  asked  aloud,  and 
the  interest  it  excited  drew  many  of  the  officers 
and  men  around  him,  in  eager  impatience  for  his 
answer,  it  was  unheeded  by  the  man  to  whom  it 


THE    PILOT  61 

was  addressed.  His  head  rested  on  his  hand,  as 
he  leaned  over  the  hammock-cloths  of  the  vessel, 
and  his  whole  air  was  that  of  one  whose  thoughts 
wandered  from  the  pressing  necessity  of  their  si 
tuation.  Griffith  was  among  those  who  had  ap 
proached  the  pilot,  and  after  waiting  a  moment, 
from  respect,  to  hear  the  answer  to  his  command 
er's  question,  he  presumed  on  his  own  rank,  and 
leaving  th-e  circle  that  stood  at  a  little  distance, 
stepped  to  the  side  of  the  mysterious  guardian  of 
their  lives. 

"  Captain  Munson  desires  to  know  whether  you 
wish  a  cast  of  the  lead  ?"  said  the  young  officer, 
with  a  little  impatience  of  manner.  No  imme 
diate  answer  was  made  to  this  repetition  of  the 
question,  and  Griffith  laid  his  hand  unceremoni 
ously  on  the  shoulder  of  the  other,  with  an  intent 
to  rouse  him,  before  he  made  another  application 
for  a  reply,  but  the  convulsive  start  of  the  pilot 
held  him  silent  in  amazement. 

"  Fall  back  there,"  said  the  lieutenant,  sternly, 
to  the  men,  who  were  closing  around  them  in  a 
compact  circle  ;  "  away  with  you  to  your  stations, 
and  see  all  clear  for  stays."  The  dense  mass  of 
heads  dissolved,  at  this  order,  like  the  water  of 
one  of  the  waves  commingling  with  the  ocean,  and 
the  lieutenant  and  his  companions  were  left  by 
themselves. 

"  This  is  not  a  time  for  musing,  Mr.  Gray," 
continued  Griffith,  "  remember  our  compact,  and 
look  to  your  charge — is  it  not  time  to  put  the  ves 
sel  in  stays?  of  what  are  you  dreaming  ?" 

The  pilot  laid  his  hand  on  the  extended  arm  of 
the  lieutenant,  and  grasped  it  with  a  convulsive 
pressure,  as  he  answered — 

"  'Tis  a  dream  of  reality.     You  are  young,  Mr. 
Griffith,  nor  am  I  past  the  noon  of  life ;  but  should 
6 


62  THE    PILOT 

you  live  fifty  years  longer,  you  never  can  see  and 
experience  what  I  have  encountered  in  my  little 
period  of  three-and-thirty  years  !" 

A  good  deal  astonished  at  this  burst  of  feeling, 
so  singular  at  such  a  moment,  the  young  sailor  was 
at  a  loss  for  a  reply ;  but  as  his  duty  was  upper 
most  in  his  thoughts,  he  still  dwelt  on  the  theme 
that  most  interested  him. 

"  I  hope  much  of  your  experience  has  been  on 
this  coast,  for  the  ship  travels  lively,"  he  said, 
"  and  the  daylight  showed  us  so  much  to  dread  that 
we  do  not  feel  over- valiant  in  the  dark.  How  much 
longer  shall  we  stand  on,  upon  this  tack  ?" 

The  pilot  turned  slowly  from  the  side  of  the 
vessel,  and  walked  towards  the  commander  of  the 
frigate,  as  he  replied,  in  a  tone  that  seemed  deep 
ly  agitated  by  his  melancholy  reflections — 

"  You  have  your  wish,  then ;  much,  very  much 
of  my  early  life  was  passed  on  this  dreaded  coast. 
What  to  you  is  all  darkness  and  gloom,  to  me  is 
as  light  as  if  a  noon-day  sun  shone  upon  it.  But 
tack  your  ship,  sir,  tack  your  ship ;  I  would  see 
how  she  works  before  we  reach  the  point  where 
she  must  behave  well,  or  we  perish." 

Griffith  gazed  after  him  in  wonder,  while  the  pi 
lot  slowly  paced  the  quarter-deck,  and  then,  rous 
ing  from  his  trance,  gave  forth  the  cheering  order 
that  called  each  man  to  his  station,  to  perform  the 
desired  evolution.  The  confident  assurances 
which  the  young  officer  had  given  to  the  pilot  re 
specting  the  qualities  of  his  vessel,  and  his  own 
ability  to  manage  her,  were  fully  realized  by  the 
result.  The  helm  was  no  sooner  put  a-lee,  than 
the  huge  ship  bore  up  gallantly  against  the  wind, 
and  dashing  directly  through  the  waves,  threw  the 
foam  high  into  the  air,  as  she  looked  boldly  into 
the  very  eye  of  the  wind,  and  then,  yielding  grace- 


THE    PILOT.  63 

fully  to  its  power,  she  fell  off  on  the  other  tack, 
with  her  head  pointed  from  those  dangerous  shoals 
that  she  had  so  recently  approached  with  such  ter 
rifying  velocity.  The  heavy  yards  swung  round, 
as  if  they  had  been  vanes  to  indicate  the  currents 
of  the  air,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  frigate  again 
moved,  with  stately  progress,  through  the  water, 
leaving  the  rocks  and  shoals  behind  her  on  one 
side  of  the  bay,  but  advancing  towards  those  that 
offered  equal  danger  on  the  other. 

During  this  time  the  sea  was  becoming  more 
agitated,  and  the  violence  of  the  wind  was  gradually 
increasing.  The  latter  no  longer  whistled  amid 
the  cordage  of  the  vessel,  but  it  seemed  to  howl, 
surlily,  as  it  passed  the  complicated  machinery  that 
the  frigate  obtruded  on  its  path.  An  endless  succes 
sion  of  white  surges  rose  above  the  heavy  billows, 
and  the  very  air  was  glittering  writh  the  light  that 
was  disengaged  from,  the  ocean.  The  ship  yield 
ed,  each  moment,  more  and  more  before  the 
storm,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  from  the  time 
that  she  had  lifted  her  anchor,  she  was  driven 
along  with  tremendous  fury  by  the  full  power  of  a 
gale  of  wind.  Still,  the  hardy  and  experienced 
mariners  who  directed  her  movements,  held  her 
to  the  course  that  was  necessary  to  their  preserva 
tion,  and  still  Griffith  gave  forth,  when  directed  by 
their  unknown  pilot,  those  orders  that  turned  her 
in  the  narrow  channel  where  safety  was  alone  to 
be  found. 

So  far,  the  performance  of  his  duty  appeared 
easy  to  the  stranger,  and  he  gave  the  required  di 
rections  in  those  still,  calm  tones,  that  formed  so 
remarkable  a  contrast  to  the  responsibility  of  his 
situation.  But  when  the  land  wTas  becoming  dim, 
in  distance  as  well  as  darkness,  and  the  agitated 
sea  alone  was  to  be  discovered  as  it  swept  by  them 


64  THE    PILOT. 

in  foam,  he  broke  in  upon  the  monotonous  roaring 
of  the  tempest  with  the  sounds  of  his  voice,  seem 
ing  to  shake  off  his  apathy,  and  rouse  himself  to 
the  occasion. 

"  Now  is  the  time  to  watch  her  closely,  Mr. 
Griffith,"  he  cried ;  "  here  we  get  the  true  tide 
and  the  real  danger.  Place  the  best  quartermaster 
of  your  ship  in  those  chains,  and  let  an  officer 
stand  by  him  and  see  that  he  gives  us  the  right 
water." 

"  I  will  take  that  office  on  myself,"  said  the 
captain ;  "  pass  a  light  into  the  weather  main- 
chains." 

"  Stand  by  your  braces !"  exclaimed  the  pilot, 
with  startling  quickness.  "  Heave  away  that 
lead!" 

These  preparations  taught  the  crew  to  expect 
the  crisis,  and  every  officer  and  man  stood  in  fear 
ful  silence,  at  his  assigned  station,  awaiting  the  is 
sue  of  the  trial.  Even  the  quarter-master  at  the 
cun  gave  out  his  orders  to  the  men  at  the  wheel, 
in  deeper  and  hoarser  tones  than  usual,  as  if  anx 
ious  not  to  disturb  the  quiet  and  order  of  the  ves 
sel. 

While  this  deep  expectation  pervaded  the  fri 
gate,  the  piercing  cry  of  the  leadsman,  as  he  call 
ed  "  by  the  mark  seven,"  rose  above  the  tempest, 
crossed  over  the  decks,  and  appeared  to  pass  away 
to  leeward,  borne  on  the  blast  like  the  warnings 
of  some  water  spirit. 

"  'Tis  well,"  returned  the  pilot,  calmly  ;  "  try 
it  again." 

The  short  pause  was  succeeded  by  another  cry, 
"  and  a  half-five  !" 

"  She  shoals  !  she  shoals  !"  exclaimed  Griffith  ; 

keep  her  a  good  full." 

"  Ay  !  you  must  hold  the  vessel  in  command, 


,c 


THE    PILOT.  66 

now,"  said  the  pilot,  with  those  cool  tones  that 
are  most  appalling  in  critical  moments,  because 
they  seem  to  denote  most  preparation  and  care. 

The  third  call  of  "  by  the  deep  four  !"  was  fol 
lowed  by  a  prompt  direction  from  the  stranger  to 
tack. 

Griffith  seemed  to  emulate  the  coolness  of  the 
pilot,  in  issuing  the  necessary  orders  to  execute  this 
manoeuvre. 

The  vessel  rose  slowly  from  the  inclined  posi 
tion  into  which  she  had  been  forced  by  the  tem 
pest,  and  the  sails  were  shaking  violently,  as  if  to 
release  themselves  from  their  confinement,  while 
the  ship  stemmed  the  billows,  when  the  well-known 
voice  of  the  sailing-master  was  heard  shouting  from 
the  forecastle — 

"  Breakers  !  breakers,  dead  ahead  !" 

This  appalling  sound  seemed  yet  to  be  lingering 
about  the  ship,  wrhen  a  second  voice  cried — 

"  Breakers  on  our  lee-bow  !" 

"  We  are  in  a  bite  of  the  shoals,  Mr.  Gray," 
cried  the  commander.  u  She  loses  her  way  ;  per 
haps  an  anchor  might  hold  her." 

"  Clear  away  that  best  bower,"  shouted  Grif 
fith  through  his  trumpet. 

"  Hold  on  !"  cried  the  pilot,  in  a  voice  that 
reached  the  very  hearts  of  all  who  heard  him  ; 
"  hold  on  every  thing." 

The  young  man  turned  fiercely  to  the  daring 
stranger,  who  thus  defied  the  discipline  of  his  ves 
sel,  and  at  once  demanded — 

"  Who  is  it  that  dares  to  countermand  my  or 
ders  ?  is  it  not  enough  that  you  run  the  ship  into 
danger,  but  you  must  interfere  to  keep  her  there  ! 
if  another  word — " 

"  Peace,  Mr.  Griffith,"  inteirupted  the  captain, 
bending  from  the  rigging,  his  gray  locks  blowing 
6* 


DO  THE    PILOT 

about  in  the  wind,  and  adding  a  look  of  wildness 
to  the  haggard  care  that  he  exhibited  by  the  light 
of  his  lantern  ;  "  yield  the  trumpet  to  Mr.  Gray  ; 
he  alone  can  save  us." 

Griffith  threw  his  speaking  trumpet  on  the  deck, 
and  as  he  walked  proudly  away,  muttered,  in  bit 
terness  of  feeling — 

"  Then  all  is  lost,  indeed,  and  among  the  rest, 
the  foolish  hopes  with  which  I  visited  this  coast." 

There  was,  however,  no  time  for  reply ;  the 
ship  had  been  rapidly  running  into  the  wind,  and 
as  the  efforts  of  the  crew  were  paralyzed  by  the 
contradictory  orders  they  had  heard,  she  gradually 
lost  her  way,  and  in  a  few  seconds  all  her  sails 
were  taken  aback. 

Before  the  crew  understood  their  situation,  the 
pilot  had  applied  the  trumpet  to  his  mouth,  and 
in  a  voice  that  rose  above  the  tempest,  he  thun 
dered  forth  his  orders.  Each  command  was 
given  distinctly,  and  with  a  precision  that  showed 
him  to  be  master  of  his  profession.  The  helm 
was  kept  fast,  the  head  yards  swung  up  heavily 
against  the  wind,  and  the  vessel  was  soon  whirl 
ing  round  on  her  heel,  with  a  retrograde  move 
ment. 

Griffith  was  too  much  of  a  seaman  not  to  per 
ceive  that  the  pilot  had  seized,  with  a  perception 
almost  intuitive,  the  only  method  that  promised  to 
extricate  the  vessel  from  her  situation.  He  was 
young,  impetuous,  and  proud — but  he  was  also 
generous.  Forgetting  his  resentment  and  his  mor 
tification,  he  rushed  forward  among  the  men,  and, 
by  his  presence  and  example^  added  certainty  to 
the  experiment.  The  ship  fell  off  slowly  before 
the  gale,  and  bowed  her  yards  nearly  to  the  wa 
ter,  as  she  felt  the  blast  pouring  its  fury  on  her 
broadside,  while  the  surlv  waves  beat  violently 


THE    PILOT.  67 

against  her  stern,  as  if  in  reproach  at  departing 
from  her  usual  manner  of  moving. 

The  voice  of  the  pilot,  however,  was  still  heard, 
steady  and  calm,  and  yet  so  cle-ar  and  high  as  to 
reach  every  ear  ;  and  the  obedient  seamen  whirled 
the  yards  at  his  bidding,  in  despite  of  the  tempest, 
as  if  they  handled  the  toys  of  their  childhood. 
When  the  ship  had  fallen  off  dead  before  the  wind, 
her  head  sails  were  shaken,  her  after  yards  trim 
med,  and  her  helm  shifted,  before  she  had  time  to 
run  upon  the  danger  that  had  threatened,  as  well 
to  leeward  as  to  windward.  The  beautiful  fabric, 
obedient  to  her  government,  threw  her  bows  up 
gracefully  towards  the  wind  again,  and  as  her  sails 
were  trimmed,  moved  out  from  amongst  the  dan 
gerous  shoals,  in  which  she  had  been  embayed,  as 
steadily  and  swiftly  as  she  had  approached  them. 

A  moment  of  breathless  astonishment  succeeded 
the  accomplishment  of  this  nice  manoeuvre,  but 
there  was  no  time  for  the  usual  expressions  of  sur 
prise.  The  stranger  still  held  the  trumpet,  and 
continued  to  lift  his  voice  amid  the  bowlings  of  the 
blast,  whenever  prudence  or  skill  directed  any 
change  in  the  management  of  the  ship.  For  an 
hour  longer,  there  was  a  fearful  struggle  for  theii 
preservation,  the  channel  becoming,  at  each  step, 
more  complicated,  and  the  shoals  thickening  around 
the  mariners  on  every  side.  The  lead  was  cast 
rapidly,  and  the  quick  eye  of  the  pilot  seemed  to 
pierce  the  darkness,  with  a  keenness  of  vision  that 
exceeded  human  power.  It  was  apparent  to  all  in 
the  vessel,  that  they  were  under  the  guidance  of 
one  who  understood  the  navigation  thoroughly,  and 
their  exertions  kept  pace  with  their  reviving  con 
fidence.  Again  and  again,  the  frigate  appeared  to 
be  rushftig  blindly  on  shoals,  where  the  sea  was 
covered  with  foarn*  and  where  destruction  would 


68  THE    PILOT. 

have  been  as  sudden  as  it  was  certain,  wheji  the 
clear  voice  of  the  stranger  was  heard  warning  them 
of  the  danger,  and  inciting  them  to  their  duty.  The 
vessel  was  implicitly  yielded  to  his  government, 
and  during  those  anxious  moments  when  she  was 
dashing  the  waters  aside,  throwing  the  spray  over 
her  enormous  yards,  each  ear  would  listen  eagerly 
for  those  sounds  that  had  obtained  a  command  over 
the  crew,  that  can  only  be  acquired,  under  such 
circumstances,  by  great  steadiness  and  consummate 
skill.  The  ship  was  recovering  from  the  inaction 
of  changing  her  course,  in  one  of  those  critical 
tacks  that  she  had  made  so  often,  when  the  pilot, 
for  the  first  time,  addressed  the  commander  of  the 
frigate,  who  still  continued  to  superintend  the  all- 
important  duty  of  the  leadsman. 

"  Now  is  the  pinch,"  he  said,  "  and  if  the  ship 
behaves  well,  we  are  safe — but  if  otherwise,  all  we 
have  yet  done  will  be  useless." 

The  veteran  seaman  whom  he  addressed  left  the 
chains,  at  this  portentous  notice,  and  calling  to  his 
first  lieutenant,  required  of  the  stranger  an  explana 
tion  of  his  warning. 

"See  you  yon  light  on  the  southern  headland?" 
returned  the  pilot;  "you  may  know  it  from  the 
star  near  it — by  its  sinking,  at  times,  in  the  ocean. 
Now  observe  the  hom-moc,  a  little  north  of  it, 
looking  like  a  shadow  in  the  horizon — 'tis  a  hill 
far  inland.  If  we  keep  that  light  open  from  the 
hill,  we  shall  do  well — but  if  not,  we  surely  go  to 
pieces." 

"Let  us  tack  again!"  exclaimed  the  lieutenant. 

The  pilot  shook  his  head,  as  he  replied — 

"  There  is  no  more  tacking  or  box-hauling  to  be 
done  to-night.  We  have  barely  room  to  pass  out 
of  the  shoals  on  this  course,  and  if  we  can  weather 
the  'Devil's-Grip,'  we  clear  their  outermost  point 


THE    PILOT.  69 

— hut  if  not,  as  I  said  before,  there  is  but  an  alter 
native." 

"  If  we  had  beaten  out  the  way  we  entered  !" 
exclaimed  Griffith,  "  we  should  have  done  well." 

"  Say  also,  if  the  tide  would  have  let  us  do  so," 
returned  the  pilot,  calmly.  "  Gentlemen,  we  must 
be  prompt ;  we  have  but  a  mile  to  go,  and  the 
ship  appears  to  fly.  That  topsail  is  not  enough  to 
keep  her  up  to  the  wind  ;  we  want  both  jib  and 
mainsail." 

u  'Tis  a  perilous  thing  to  loosen  canvass  in  such 
a  tempest  !"  observed  the  doubtful  captain. 

"  It  must  be  done,"  returned  the  collected 
stranger ;  "  we  perish  without  it — see  !  the  light 
already  touches  the  edge  of  the  hom-moc  ;  the  sea 
casts  us  to  leeward  !" 

"  It  shall  be  done  !"  cried  Griffith,  seizing  the 
trumpet  from  the  hand  of  the  pilot. 

The  orders  of  tire  lieutenant  \vere  executed  al 
most  as  soon  as  issued,  and  every  thing  being  ready, 
the  enormous  folds  of  the  mainsail  were  trusted, 
loose,  to  the  blast.  There  was  an  instant  when 
the  result  was  doubtful ;  the  tremendous  thresh 
ing  of  the  heavy  sail  seeming  to  bid  defiance  to 
all  restraint,  shaking  the  ship  to  her  centre  ;  but 
art  and  strength  prevailed,  and  gradually  the  can 
vass  was  distended,  and  bellying  as  it  filled,  was 
drawn  down  to  its  usual  place  by  the  power  of  a 
hundred  men.  The  vessel  yielded  to  this  immense 
addition  of  force,  and  bowed  before  it,  like  a  reed 
bending  to  a  breeze.  But  the  success  of  the  mea 
sure  was  announced  by  a  joyful  cry  from  the 
stranger,  that  seemed  to  burst  from  his  inmost  soul. 

"  She  feels  it!  she  springs  her  luff'  observed, 
he  said,  "  the  light  opens  from  the  hom-moc  al 
ready  ;  if  she  will  only  bear  her  canvass,  we  shall 
go  clear  '" 


70  THE    PILOT. 

A  report,  like  that  of  a  cannon,  interrupted  his 
exclamation,  and  something  resembling  a  white 
cloud  was  seen  drifting  before  the  wind  from  the 
head  of  the  ship,  till  it  was  driven  into  the  gloom 
far  to  leeward. 

"  'Tis  the  jib,  blown  from  the  bolt-ropes,"  said 
the  commander  of  the  frigate.  "  This  is  no  time 
to  spread  light  duck — but  the  mainsail  may  stand 
it  yet." 

"  The  sail  would  laugh  at  a  tornado,''  leturned 
the  lieutenant ,  "  but  the  mast  springs  like  a  piece 
of  steel." 

"  Silence  all !"  cried  the  pilot.  "  Now,  gentle 
men,  we  shall  soon  know  our  fate.  Let  her  luff — 
Luff  you  can !" 

This  warning  effectually  closed  all  discourse, 
and  the  hardy  mariners,  knowing  that  they  had 
already  done  all  in  the  power  of  man  to  ensure 
their  safety,  stood  in  breathless  anxiety,  awaiting 
the  result.  At  a  short  distance  ahead  of  them 
the  whole  ocean  was  white  with  foam,  and  the 
waves,  instead  of  rolling  on,  in  regular  succession, 
appeared  to  be  tossing  about  in  mad  gambols.  A 
single  streak  of  dark  billows,  not  half  a  cable's 
length  in  width,  could  be  discerned  running  into 
this  chaos  of  water ;  but  it  was  soon  lost  to  the 
eye  amid  the  confusion  of  the  disturbed  element. 
Along  this  narrow  path  the  vessel  moved  more  hea 
vily  than  before,  being  brought  so  near  the  wind  as 
to  keep  her  sails  touching.  The  pilot  silently  pro 
ceeded  to  the  wheel,  and,  with  his  own  hands,  he  un 
dertook  the  steerage  of  the  ship.  No  noise  proceed 
ed  from  the  frigate  to  interrupt  the  horrid  tumult 
of  the  ocean,  and  she  entered  the  channel  among 
the  breakers,  with  the  silence  of  a  desperate  calm 
ness.  Twenty  times,  as  the  foam  rolled  away  to 
leoward  the  crew  were  on  the  eve  of  uttering 


THE    PILOT,  71 

their  joy  as  they  supposed  the  vessel  past  the 
danger ;  but  breaker  after  breaker  would  still 
heave  up  before  them,  following  each  other  into 
the  general  mass,  to  check  their  exultation.  Oc 
casionally,  the  fluttering  of  the  sails  would  be 
heard ;  and  when  the  looks  of  the  startled  seamen 
were  turned  to  the  wheel,  they  beheld  the  stran 
ger  grasping  its  spokes,  with  his  quick  eye  glanc 
ing  from  the  water  to  the  canvass.  At  length  the 
ship  reached  a  point,  where  she  appeared  to  be 
rushing  directly  into  the  jaws  of  destruction,  when, 
suddenly,  her  course  was  changed,  and  her  head 
receded  rapidly  from  the  wind.  At  the  same  in 
stant  the  voice  of  the  pilot  was  heard,  shouting — 

"  Square  away  the  yards  ! — in  mainsail !" 

A  general  burst  from  the  crew  echoed,  "  square 
away  the  yards !"  and,  quick  as  thought,  the  fri 
gate  was  seen  gliding  along  the  channel  before  the 
wind.  The  eye  had  hardly  time  to  dwell  on  the 
foam,  which  seemed  like  clouds  driving  in  the  hea 
vens,  and  directly  the  gallant  vessel  issued  from 
her  perils,  and  rose  and  fell  on  the  heavy  waves 
of  the  open  sea. 

The  seamen  were  yet  drawing  long  breaths,  and 
gazing  about  them  like  men  recovered  from  a 
trance,  when  Griffith  approached  the  man  who  had 
so  successfully  conducted  them  through  their  perils. 
The  young  lieutenant  grasped  the  hand  of  the  oth 
er,  as  he  said — 

"  You  have  this  night  proved  yourself  a  faith 
ful  pilot,  and  such  a  seaman  as  the  world   cannot 
equal." 

The  pressure  of  the  hand  was  warmly  returned 
by  the  unknown  mariner,  who  replied — 

"  I  am  no  stranger  to  the  seas,  and  I  may  yet 
find  my  grave  in  them.  But  you,  too,  have  de- 


THE    PILOT. 

ceived  me ;  you  have  acted  nobly,  young  man, 
and  Congress — " 

"  What  of  Congress  ?"  asked  Griffith,  observing 
him  to  pause. 

"  Why,  Congress  is  fortunate  if  it  has  many 
such  ships  as  this,"  said  the  stranger,  coldly,  walk 
ing  away  toward  the  commander. 

Griffith  gazed  after  him,  a  moment,  in  surprise ; 
but  as  hrs  duty  required  his  attention,  other 
thoughts  soon  engaged  his  mind. 

The  vessel  was  pronounced  to  be  in  safety.  The 
gale  was  heavy,  and  increasing,  but  there  was  a 
clear  sea  before  them,  and,  as  she  slowly  stretched 
out  into  the  bosom  of  the  ocean,  preparations  were 
made  for  her  security  during  its  continuance.  Be 
fore  midnight  every  thing  was  in  order.  A  gun 
from  the  Ariel  soon  announced  the  safety  of  the 
schooner  also,  which  had  gone  out  by  another  and 
an  easier  channel,  that  the  frigate  had  not  dared  to 
attempt ;  when  the  commander  directed  the  usual 
watch  to  be  set,  and  the  remainder  of  the  crew  to 
seek  their  necessary  repose. 

The  captain  withdrew  with  the  mysterious  pilot 
to  his  own  cabin.  Griffith  gave  his  last  order,  and 
renewing  his  charge  to  the  officer  entrusted  with 
the  care  of  the  vessel,  he  wished  him  a  pleasant 
watch,  ana  sought  the  refreshment  of  his  own  cot. 
For  an  hour,  the  young  lieutenant  lay  musing  on 
the  events  of  the  day.  The  remark  of  Barnstable 
would  occur  to  him,  in  connexion  with  the  singu 
lar  comment  of  the  boy;  and  then  his  thoughts 
would  recur  to  the  pilot,  who,  taken  from  the  hos 
tile  shores  of  Britain,  and  with  her  accent  on  his 
tongue,  had  served  them  so  faithfully  and  so  well. 
He  remembered  the  anxiety  of  Captain  Munson  to 
procure  this  stranger,  at  the  very  hazard  from 


THE    PILOT.  78 

which  they  had  just  been  relieved,  and  puzzled 
himself  with  conjecturing  why  a  pilot  was  to  be 
sought  at  such  a  risk.  His  more  private  feelings 
would  then  resume  their  sway,  and  the  recollection 
of  America,  his  mistress,  and  his  home,  mingled 
with  the  confused  images  of  the  drowsy  youth. 
The  dashing  of  the  billows  against  the  side  of  the 
ship,  the  creaking  of  guns,  and  bulk-heads,  with  the 
roaring  of  the  tempest,  however,  became  gradually 
less  and  less  distinct,  until  nature  yielded  to  neces 
sity,  and  the  young  man  forgot  even  the  romantic 
images  of  his  love,  in  the  deep  sleep  of  a  seaman* 

7 


CHAPTER  VI 


M  The  letter  !  ay  !  the  letter  • 
Tia  there  a  woman  lovoa  to  speak  her  wishes  5 
It  spares  the  blushes  of  the  love-sick  maiden, 
And  every  word's  a  smile,  each  line  a  tongue." 

Dm 


THE  slumbers  of  Griffith  continued  till  late  on 
the  following  morning,  when  he  was  awakened  by 
the  report  of  a  cannon,  issuing  from  the  deck  above 
him.  He  threw  himself,  listlessly,  from  his  cot, 
and  perceiving  the  officer  of  marines  near  him, 
as  his  servant  opened  the  door  of  his  state-room, 
he  inquired,  with  some  little  interest  in  his  man 
ner,  if  "  the  ship  was  in  chase  of  any  thing,  that  a 
gun  was  fired  ?" 

"  'Tis  no  more  than  a  hint  to  the  Ariel,"  the 
soldier  replied,  "  that  there  is  bunting  abroad  for 
them  to  read.  It  seems  as  if  all  hands  were  asleep 
on  board  her,  for  we  have  shown  her  signal,  these 
ten  minutes,  and  she  takes  us  for  a  collier,  I  believe, 
by  the  respect  she  pays  it." 

"  Say,  rather,  that  she  takes  us  for  an  enemy, 
and  is  wary,"  returned  Griffith.  "  Brown  Dick 
has  played  the  English  so  many  tricks  himself, 
that  he  is  tender  of  his  faith." 

"  Why,  they  have  shown  him  a  yellow  flag  over 
a  blue  one,  with  a  cornet,  and  that  spells  Ariel, 


THE    PILOT.  75 

in  every  signal-book  we  have ;  surely  he  can't 
suspect  the  English  of  knowing  how  to  read  Yan 
kee." 

"  I  have  known  Yankees  read  more  difficult 
English,"  said  Griffith,  smiling ;  "  but,  in  truth, 
I  suppose  that  Barnstable  has  been,  like  myself, 
keeping  a  dead  reckoning  of  his  time,  and  his  men 
have  profited  by  the  occasion.  She  is  lying  too,  I 
trust." 

"  Ay  !  like  a  cork  in  a  mill-pond,  and  I  dare  say 
you  are  right.  Give  Barnstable  plenty  of  sea- 
room,  a  heavy  wind,  and  but  little  sail,  and  he  will 
send  his  men  below,  put  that  fellow  he  calls  long 
Tom  at  the  tiller,  and  follow  himself,  and  sleep  as 
quietly  as  I  ever  could  at  church." 

"  Ah  !  yours  is  a  somniferous  orthodoxy,  Cap 
tain  Manual,"  said  the  young  sailor,  laughing,  while 
he  slipped  his  arms  into  the  sleeves  of  a  morning 
round-about,  covered  with  the  gilded  trappings  of 
his  profession  ;  "  sleep  appears  to  come  most  natu 
rally  to  all  you  idlers.  But  give  me  a  passage, 
and  I  will  go  up,  and  call  the  schooner  down  to  us 
in  the  turning  of  an  hourglass." 

The  indolent  soldier  raised  himself  from  the 
leaning  posture  he  had  taken  against  the  door  of 
the  state-room,  and  Griffith  proceeded  through  the 
dark  ward-room,  up  the  narrow  stairs  that  led  him 
to  the  principal  battery  of  the  ship,  and  thence,  by 
another  and  broader  flight  of  steps,  to  the  open 
deck. 

The  gale  still  blew  strong,  but  steadily;  the 
blue  water  of  the  ocean  was  rising  in  mimic 
mountains,  that  were  crowned  with  white  foam, 
which  the  wind,  at  times,  lifted  from  its  kindred 
element,  to  propel  in  mist,  through  the  air,  from 
summit  to  summit.  But  the  ship  rode  on  these  agi 
tated  billows  with  an  easy  and  regular  movement., 


76  THE    PILOT. 

that  denoted  the  skill  with  which  her  mechanical 
powers  were  directed.  The  day  was  bright  and 
clear,  and  the  lazy  sun,  who  seemed  unwilling  to 
meet  the  toil  of  ascending  to  the  meridian,  was 
crossing  the  heavens  with  a  southern  inclination, 
that  hardly  allowed  him  to  temper  the  moist  air 
of  the  ocean  with  his  genial  heat.  At  the  distance 
of  a  mile,  directly  in  the  wind's  eye,  the  Ariel  was 
seen,  obeying  the  signai  which  had  caused  the  di 
alogue  we  have  related.  Her  low,  black  hull  was 
barely  discernible,  at  moments,  when  she  rose  to 
the  crest  of  a  larger  wave  than  common  ;  but  the 
spot  of  canvass  that  she  exposed  to  the  wind,  was 
to  be  seen,  seeming  to  touch  the  water  on  either 
hand,  as  the  little  vessel  rolled  amid  the  seas.  At 
times  she  was  entirely  hid  from  view,  when  the 
faint  lines  of  her  raking  masts  would  be  again  dis 
covered,  issuing,  as  it  were,  from  the  ocean,  and 
continuing  to  ascend,  until  the  hull  itself  would  ap 
pear,  thrusting  its  bows  into  the  air,  surrounded 
by  foam,  and  apparently  i  eady  to  take  its  flight  into 
another  element. 

After  dwelling  a  moment  on  the  beautiful  sight 
we  have  attempted  to  describe,  Griffith  cast  his 
eyes  upward,  to  examine,  with  the  keenness  of  a 
seaman,  the  disposition  of  things  aloft,  and  then 
turned  his  attention  to  those  who  were  on  the  deck 
of  the  frigate. 

His  commander  stood,  in  his  composed  manner, 
patiently  awaiting  the  execution  of  his  order  by 
the  Ariel,  and  at  his  side  was  placed  the  stranger 
who  had  so  recently  acted  such  a  conspicuous  part 
in  the  management  of  the  ship.  Griffith  availed 
himself  of  daylight  and  his  situation,  to  examine 
the  appearance  of  this  singular  being  more  closely 
than  the  darkness  and  confusion  of  the  preceding 
night  had  allowed.  He  was  a  trifle  below  the 


THE    PILOT.  77 

middle  size  in  stature,  but  his  form  was  muscular 
and  athletic,  exhibiting  the  finest  proportions  of 
manly  beauty.  His  face  appeared  rather  charac 
terized  by  melancholy  and  thought,  than  by  that 
determined  decision  which  he  had  so  powerfully 
displayed  in  the  moments  of  their  most  extreme 
danger ;  but  Griffith  well  knew,  that  it  could  also 
exhibit  looks  of  the  fiercest  impatience.  At  pre 
sent,  it  appeared,  to  the  curious  youth,  when  com 
pared  to  the  glimpses  he  had  caught  by  the  lights 
of  their  lanterns,  like  the  ocean  at  rest,  contrasted 
with  the  waters  around  him.  The  eyes  of  the  pi 
lot  rested  on  the  deck,  or  when  they  did  wander, 
it  was  with  uneasy  and  rapid  glances.  The  large 
pee-jacket,  that  concealed  most  of  his  other  attire, 
was  as  roughly  made,  and  of  materials  as  coarse, 
as  that  worn  by  the  meanest  seaman  in  the  vessel ; 
and  yet,  it  did  not  escape  the  inquisitive  gaze  of 
the  young  lieutenant,  that  it  was  worn  with  an  air 
of  neatness  and  care  that  was  altogether  unusual  in 
men  of  his  profession.  The  examination  of  Grif 
fith  ended  here,  for  the  near  approach  of  the  Ariel 
attracted  the  attention  of  all  on  the  deck  of  the 
frigate,  to  the  conversation  that  was  about  to  pass 
between  their  respective  commanders. 

As  the  little  schooner  rolled  along  under  their 
stern,  Captain  Munson  directed  his  subordinate  to 
leave  his  vessel,  and  repair  on  board  the  ship.  As 
soon  as  the  order  was  received,  the  Ariel  rounded- 
to,  and  drawing  ahead  into  the  smooth  water  occa 
sioned  by  the  huge  fabric  that  protected  her  from 
the  gale,  the  whale-boat  was  again  launched  from 
her  decks,  and  manned  by  the  same  crew  that  had 
landed  on  those  shores  which  were  now  faintly 
discerned  far  to  leeward,  looking  like  blue  clouds 
on  the  skirts  of  the  ocean. 

When  Barnstable  had  entered  his  boat,  a  few 
7* 


78  THE    PILOT. 

strokes  of  the  oars  sent  it,  dancing  over  the  waves> 
to  the  side  of  the  ship.  The  little  vessel  was  then 
veered  off,  to  a  distance,  where  it  rode  in  safety, 
under  the  care  of  a  boat-keeper,  and  the  officer 
and  his  men  ascended  the  side  of  the  lofty  frigate. 

The  usual  ceremonials  of  reception  were  rigidly 
observed  by  Griffith  and  his  juniors,  wken  Barn- 
stable  touched  the  deck ;  and  though  every  hand 
was  ready  to  be  extended  towards  the  reckless 
seaman,  none  presumed  to  exceed  the  salutations 
of  official  decorum,  until  a  short  and  private  dia 
logue  had  taken  place  between  him  and  their  cap 
tain. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  crew  of  the  whale-boat 
passed  forward,  and  mingled  with  the  seamen  of 
the  frigate,  with  the  exception  of  the  cockswain, 
who  established  himself  in  one  of  the  gangways, 
where  he  stood  in  the  utmost  composure,  fixing 
his  eyes  aloft,  and  shaking  his  head,  in  evident  dis 
satisfaction,  as  he  studied  the  complicated  mass  of 
rigging  above  him.  This  spectacle  soon  attracted 
to  his  side  some  half-dozen  youths,  with  Mr.  Mer 
ry  at  their  head,  who  endeavoured  to  entertain 
their  guest  in  a  manner  that  should  most  conduce 
to  the  indulgence  of  their  own  waggish  propensi 
ties. 

The  conversation  between  Barnstable  and  his 
superior  soon  ended  ;  when  the  former,  beckoning 
to  Griffith,  passed  the  wondering  group  who  had 
collected  around  the  capstern,  awaiting  his  leisure 
to  greet  him  more  cordially,  and  led  the  way  to 
the  ward-room,  with  the  freedom  of  one  who  felt 
himself  no  stranger.  As  this  unsocial  manner 
formed  no  part  of  the  natural  temper  or  ordinary 
deportment  of  the  man,  the  remainder  of  the  offi 
cers  suffered  their  first  lieutenant  to  follow  him 
alone,  believing  that  duty  required  that  their  in- 


THE    PILOT.  79 

tervicw  should  be  private.  Barnstuble  was  de 
termined  that  it  should  be  so,  at  all  events;  for  he 
seized  the  lamp  from  the  mess-table,  and  entered 
the  state-room  of  his  friend,  closing  the  door  be 
hind  them,  and  turning  the  key.  When  they  were 
both  within  its  narrow  limits — pointing  to  the  only 
chair  the  little  apartment  contained,  with  a  sort  of 
instinctive  deference  to  his  companion's  rank — the 
commander  of  the  schooner  threw  himself  careless 
ly  on  a  sea-chest,  and,  placing  the  lamp  on  the  ta 
ble,  he  opened  the  discourse  as  follows : 

"  What  a  night  we  had  of  it !  twenty  times  I 
thought  I  could  see  the  sea  breaking  over  you,  and 
I  had  given  you  over  as  drowned  men,  or,  wrhat  is 
worse,  as  men  driven  ashore,  to  be  led  to  the 
prison-ships  of  these  islandeis,  when  I  saw  your 
lights  in  answer  to  my  gun.  Had  you  hoisted  the 
conscience  out  of  a  murderer,  you  wouldn't  have 
relieved  him  more  than  you  did  me,  by  showing 
that  bit  of  tallow  and  cotton,  tip'd  with  flint  and 
steel.  But,  Griffith,  I  have  a  tale  to  tell  of  a  dif 
ferent  kind — " 

"  Of  how  you  slept,  when  you  founJ  yourself  in 
deep  water,  and  how  your  crew  stiove  to  outdo 
their  commander,  and  how  all  succeeded  so  well, 
that  there  was  a  gray-head  on  board  here,  that  be 
gan  to  shake  with  displeasure,"  interrupted  Grif 
fith  ;  "  truly,  Dick,  you  will  get  into  lubberly  ha 
bits  on  board  that  bubble  in  which  you  float  about, 
where  all  hands  go  to  sleep  as  regularly  as  the  in 
habitants  of  a  poultry  yard  go  to  roost." 

"  Not  so  bad,  not  half  so  bad,  Ned,"  returned 
the  other  laughing  ;  "  I  keep  as  sharp  a  discipline 
as  if  we  wore  a  flag.  To  be  sure,  forty  men  can't 
make  as  much  parade  as  three  or  four  hundred ; 
but  as  for  making  or  taking  in  sail,  I  am  your  bet 
ter  any  day." 


80  THE    PILOT. 

"  Ay,  oecause  a  pocket  handkerchief  is  soonei 
opened  and  shut  than  a  table-cloth.  But  I  hold 
it  to  be  unseamanlike,  to  leave  any  vessel  without 
human  eyes,  and  those  open,  to  watch  whether  she 
goes  east  or  west,  north  or  south." 

"  And  who  is  guilty  of  such  a  dead-man's 
watch  ?" 

"  Why,  they  say  »n  board  here,  that  when  it 
blows  hard,  you  seat  the  man  you  call  long  Tom 
by  the  side  of  the  tiller,  tell  him  to  keep  her  head- 
to-sea,  and  then  pipe  all  hands  to  their  nightcaps, 
where  you  all  remain,  comfortably  stowed  in  your 
hammocks,  until  you  are  awakened  by  the  snoring 
of  your  helmsman." 

"  'Tis  a  damned  scandalous  insinuation/'  cried 
Barnstable,  with  an  indignation  that  he  in  vain  at 
tempted  to  conceal.  "  Who  gives  currency  to 
such  a  libel,  Mr.  Griffith  ?" 

"  I  had  it  of  the  marine,"  said  his  friend,  losing 
the  archness  that  had  instigated  him  to  worry  his 
companion,  in  the  vacant  air  of  one  who  was  care 
less  of  every  thing  ;  "  but  I  don't  believe  half  of 
it  myself — I  have  no  doubt  you  all  had  your  eyes 
open  last  night,  whatever  you  might  have  been 
about  this  morning." 

"  Ah !  this  morning  \  there  was  an  oversight^ 
indeed !  But  I  was  studying  a  new  signal-book, 
Griffith,  that  has  a  thousand  times  more  interest 
for  me  than  all  the  bunting  you  can  show,  from  the 
head  to  the  heel  of  your  masts." 

"  What !  have  you  found  out  the  Englishman's 
private  talk  ?" 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  other,  stretching  forth  his 
hand,  and  grasping  the  arm  of  his  friend.  "  I  met, 
last  night,  one,  on  those  cliffs,  who  has  proved  her 
self  what  I  always  believed  her  to  be  and  loved  her 
for,  a  girl  of  quick  thought  and  bold  spirit." 


THE    PILOT  81 

<c  Of  whom  do  you  speak  ?" 

"  Of  Katherine— " 

Griffith  started  from  his  chair  involuntarily,  at 
the  sound  of  this  name,  and  the  blood  passed  quick 
ly  through  the  shades  of  his  countenance,  leaving 
it  now  pale  as  death,  and  then  burning  as  if  op 
pressed  by  a  torrent  from  his  heart.  Struggling  to 
overcome  an  emotion,  which  he  appeared  ashamed 
to  betray  even  to  the  friend  he  most  loved,  the 
young  man  soon  recovered  himself  so  far  as  to  re 
sume  his  seat,  when  he  asked,  gloomily — 

"  Was  she  alone  ?» 

"  She  was  ;  but  she  left  with  me  this  paper,  and 
this  invaluable  book,  which  is  worth  a  library  of 
all  other  works." 

The  eye  of  Griffith  rested  vacantly  on  the  trea 
sure  that  the  other  valued  so  highly,  but  his  hand 
seized,  eagerly,  the  open  letter  which  was  laid  on 
the  table  for  his  perusal.  The  reader  will  at  once 
understand,  that  it  was  in  the  hand- writing  of  a  fe 
male,  and  that  it  was  the  communication  Barnsta- 
ble  had  received  from  his  betrothed,  on  the  cliffs. 
Its  contents  were  as  follows  : 

"  Believing  that  Providence  may  conduct  me 
where  we  shall  meet,  or  whence  I  may  be  able  to 
transmit  to  you  this  account,  I  have  prepared  a 
short  statement  of  the  situation  of  Cecilia  Howard 
and  myself;  not,  however,  to  urge  you  and  Grif 
fith  to  any  rash  or  foolish  hazards,  but  that  you 
may  both  sit  down,  and,  after  due  consultation,  de 
termine  on  what  is  proper  for  our  relief. 

"  By  this  time,  you  must  understand  the  cha 
racter  of  Colonel  Howard  too  well  to  expect  he 
will  ever  consent  to  give  his  niece  to  a  rebel.  He 
has  already  sacrificed  to  his  loyalty,  as  he  calls  it, 
(but  I  whisper  to  Cecilia,  'tis  his  treason,)  not  on^ 
ly  his  native  country,  but  no  small  part  of  his  for 


THE    PILOT. 


tune  also.  In  the  frankness  of  my  disposition,  (you 
know  my  frankness,  Barnstable,  but  too  well ! )  I 
confessed  to  him,  after  the  defeat  of  the  mad  at 
tempt  Griffith  made  to  carry  off  Cecilia,  in  Caroli 
na,  that  I  had  been  foolish  enough  to  enter  into 
some  weak  promise  to  the  brother  officer  who  had 
accompanied  the  young  sailor  in  his  traitorous  vi 
sits  to  the  plantation.  Heigho  !  I  sometimes  think 
it  would  have  been  better  for  us  all,  if  your  ship  had 
never  been  chased  into  the  river,  or  after  she  was 
there,  if  Griffith  had  made  no  attempt  to  renew  his 
acquaintance  with  my  cousin.  The  colonel  re 
ceived  the  intelligence  as  such  a  guardian  would 
hear  that  his  ward  was  about  to  throw  away  thirty 
thousand  dollars  and  herself  on  a  traitor  to  his  king 
and  country.  I  defended  you  stoutly  :  said,  that 
you  had  no  king,  as  the  tie  was  dissolved  ;  that 
America  was  your  country,  and  that  your  profes 
sion  was  honourable ;  but  it  would  not  all  do. 
He  called  you  rebel;  that  I  was  used  to.  He 
said  you  were  a  traitor;  that,  in  his  vocabula 
ry,  amounts  to  the  same  thing.  He  even  hinted 
that  you  were  a  coward  ;  and  that  I  knew  to  be 
false,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  tell  him  so.  He  used 
fifty  opprobrious  terms  that  I  cannot  remember, 
but  among  others  were  the  beautiful  epithets  of 
'  disorganize^'  'leveller,'  '  democrat,'  c  and  'jaco- 
bite,'  (I  hope  he  did  not  mean  a  monk  !)  In  short, 
he  acted  Colonel  Howard  in  a  rage.  But  as  his 
dominion  does  not,  like  that  of  his  favourite  kings, 
continue  from  generation  to  generation,  and  one 
short  year  will  release  me  from  his  power,  and 
leave  me  mistress  of  my  own  actions,  that  is,  if 
your  fine  promises  are  to  be  believed,  I  bore  it 
all  very  well,  being  resolved  to  suffer  any  thing 
but  martyrdom,  rather  than  abandon  Cecilia.  She, 
dear  girl,  has  much  more  to  distress  her  than  I  can 


THE    PILOT.  83 

have  ;  she  is  not  only  the  ward  of  Colonel  How 
ard,  but  his  niece,  and  his  sole  heir.  I  am  per 
suaded  this  latter  circumstance  makes  no  differ 
ence  in  either  her  conduct  or  her  feelings,  but  he 
appears  to  think  it  gives  him  a  right  to  tyrannize 
over  her  on  all  occasions.  After  all,  Colonel  How 
ard  is  a  gentleman  when  you  do  not  put  him  in  a 
passion,  and,  I  believe,  a  thoroughly  honest  man, 
and  Cecilia  even  loves  him.  But  a  man  who  is 
driven  from  his  country,  in  his  sixtieth  year,  with 
the  loss  of  near  half  his  fortune,  is  not  apt  to  ca 
nonize  those  who  compel  the  change. 

"  It  seems  that  when  the  Howards  lived  on  this 
island,  a  hundred  years  ago,  they  dwelt  in  the 
county  of  Northumberland.  Hither,  then,  he 
brought  us,  when  political  events,  and  his  dread  of 
becoming  the  uncle  to  a  rebel,  induced  him  to 
abandon  America,  as  he  says,  for  ever.  We  have 
been  here  now  three  months,  and  for  two  thirds 
of  that  time  we  lived  in  tolerable  comfort ;  but  lat 
terly,  the  papers  have  announced  the  arrival  of  the 
ship  and  your  schooner  in  France,  and  from  that 
moment  as  strict  a  watch  has  been  kept  over  us, 
as  if  we  had  meditated  a  renewal  of  the  Carolina 
flight.  The  colonel,  on  his  arrival  here,  hired  an 
old  building,  that  is  part  house,  part  abbey,  part 
castle,  and  all  prison,  because  it  is  said  to  have 
once  belonged  to  an  ancestor  of  his.  In  this  de 
lightful  dwelling  there  are  many  cages,  that  will 
secure  more  uneasy  birds  than  we  are.  About 
a  fortnight  ago  an  alarm  was  given  in  a  neighbour 
ing  village  which  is  situated  on  the  shore,  that  two 
American  vessels,  answering  your  description,  had 
been  seen  hovering  along  the  coast ;  and,  as  the 
people  in  this  quarter  dream  of  nothing  but  that 
terrible  fellow  Paul  Jones,  it  was  said  that  he  was 
on  board  one  of  them.  But  I  believe  that  Colonel 


84  THE    PILOT. 

Howard  suspects  who  you  really  are.  He  was  ve 
ry  minute  in  his  inquiries,  I  hear ;  and  since  then, 
has  established  a  sort  of  ganison  in  the  house,  un 
der  the  pretence  of  defending  it  against  marauders, 
like  those  who  are  said  to  have  laid  my  Lady  Sel 
kirk  under  contribution. 

"  Now,  understand  me,  Barnstable ;  on  no  ac 
count  would  I  have  you  risk  yourself  on  shore ; 
neither  must  there  be  blood  spilt,  if  you  love  me ; 
but  that  you  may  know  what  sort  of  a  place  we 
are  confined  in,  and  by  whom  surrounded,  I  will 
describe  both  our  prison  and  the  garrison.  The 
whole  building  is  of  stone,  and  not  to  be  attempt 
ed  with  slight  means.  It  has  windings  and  turn 
ings,  both  internally  and  externally,  that  would  re 
quire  more  skill  than  I  possess  to  make  intelligi 
ble  ;  but  the  rooms  we  inhabit  are  in  the  upper  or 
third  floor  of  a  wing,  that  you  may  call  a  tower,  if 
you  are  in  a  romantic  mood,  but  which,  in  truth,  is 
nothing  but  a  wing.  Would  to  God  I  could  fly 
with  it !  If  any  accident  should  bring  you  in  sight 
of  the  dwelling,  you  will  know  our  rooms  by  the 
three  smoky  vanes  that  whiffle  about  its  pointed 
roof,  and  also,  by  the  windows  in  that  story  being 
occasionally  open.  Opposite  to  our  windows,  at 
the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  is  a  retired,  unfrequent 
ed  ruin,  concealed,  in  a  great  measure,  from  ob 
servation  by  a  wood,  and  affording  none  of  the  best 
accommodations,  it  is  true,  but  shelter  in  some  of 
its  vaults  or  apartments.  I  have  prepared,  accord 
ing  to  the  explanations  you  once  gave  me  on  this 
subject,  a  set  of  small  signals,  of  differently  colour 
ed  silks,  and  a  little  dictionary  of  all  the  phrases 
that  I  could  imagine  as  useful  to  refer  to,  properly 
numbered  to  correspond  with,  the  key  and  the 
flags,  nil  of  which  I  shall  send  you  with  this  letter. 
You  must  prepare  your  own  flags,  and  of  course  I 


THE    PILOT,  85 

retain  mine,  as  well  as  a  copy  of  the  key  and  book. 
If  opportunity  should  ever  offer,  we  can  have,  at 
least,  a  pleasant  discourse  together ;  you  from  the 
top  of  the  old  tower  in  the  ruins,  and  I  from  the 
east  window  of  my  dressing-room  !  But  now  for 
the  garrison.  In  addition  to  the  commandant,  Co 
lonel  Howard,  who  retains  all  the  fierceness  of  his 
former  military  profession,  there  is,  as  his  second 
in  authority,  that  bane  of  Cecilia's  happiness,  Kit 
Dillon,  with  his  long  Savannah  face,  scornful  eyes 
of  black,  and  skin  of  the  same  colour.  This  gen 
tleman,  you  know,  is  a  distant  relative  of  the  How 
ards,  and  wishes  to  be  more  nearly  allied.  He  is 
poor,  it  is  true,  but  then,  as  the  colonel  daily  re 
marks,  he  is  a  good  and  loyal  subject,  and  no  re 
bel.  When  I  asked  why  he  was  not  in  arms  in 
these  stirring  times,  contending  for  the  prince  he 
loves  so  much,  the  colonel  answers  that  it  is  not 
his  profession,  that  he  has  been  educated  for  the 
law,  and  was  destined  to  fill  one  of  the  highest  ju 
dicial  stations  in  the  colonies,  and  that  he  hoped 
he  should  yet  live  to  see  him  sentence  certain 
nameless  gentlemen  to  condign  punishment.  This 
was  consoling,  to  be  sure,  but  I  bore  it.  How 
ever,  he  left  Carolina  with  us,  and  here  he  is,  and 
here  he  is  likely  to  continue,  unless  you  can  catch 
him,  and  anticipate  his  judgment  on  himself.  This 
gentleman  the  colonel  has  long  desired  to  see  the 
husband  of  Cecilia,  and  since  the  news  of  your  be 
ing  on  the  coast,  the  siege  has  nearly  amounted  to 
a  storm.  The  consequences  are,  that  my  cousin 
at  first  kept  her  room,  and  then  the  colonel  kept 
her  there,  and  even  now  she  is  precluded  from 
leaving  the  wing  we  inhabit.  In  addition  to  these 
two  principal  gaolers,  we  have  four  men  servants, 
two  black  and  two  white  ;  and  an  officer  and  twen 
ty  soldiers  from  the  neighbouring  town  are  billeted 
8 


86  THE    PILOT. 

on  us,  by  particular  desire,  until  the  coast  is  de 
clared  free  from  pirates !  yes,  that  is  the  musical 
name  they  give  you — and  when  their  own  people 
land,  and  plunder,  and  rob,  and  murder  the  men 
and  insult  the  women,  they  are  called  heroes  !  It's 
a  fine  thing  to  be  able  to  invent  names  and  make 
dictionaries — and  it  must  be  your  fault,  if  mine 
has  been  framed  for  no  purpose.  I  declare,  when 
I  recollect  all  the  insulting  and  cruel  things  I  hear 
in  this  country  of  my  own  and  her  people,  it  makes 
me  lose  my  temper,  and  forget  my  sex  ;  but  do  not 
let  my  ill  humour  urge  you  to  any  thing  rash ;  re 
member  your  life,  remember  their  prisons,  re 
member  your  reputation,  but  do  not,  do  not  forget 
your  KATHERINE  PLOWDEN." 

"  P.  S.  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  tell  you,  that 
in  the  signal-book  you  will  find  a  more  particular 
description  of  our  prison,  where  it  stands,  and  a 
drawing  of  the  grounds,  &c." 

When  Griffith  concluded  this  epistle,  he  return* 
ed  it  to  the  man  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  and 
fell  back  in  his  chair,  in  an  attitude  that  denoted 
deep  reflection. 

"  I  knew  she  was  here,  or  I  should  have  ac 
cepted  the  command  offered  to  me  by  our  com 
missioners  in  Paris,"  he  at  length  uttered  ;  "  and 
I  thought  that  some  lucky  chance  might  throw  her 
in  my  way  ;  but  this  is  bringing  us  close,  indeed  ! 
This  intelligence  must  be  acted  on,  and  that 
promptly.  Poor  girl,  what  does  she  not  suffer  in 
such  a  situation  !" 

"  What  a  beautiful  hand  she  writes  !"  exclaimed 
Barnstable  ;  "  'tis  as  clear,  and  as  pretty,  and  as 
small,  as  her  own  delicate  fingers.  Griff,  what  a 
log-book  she  would  keep  !" 

"  Cecilia  Howard  touch  the  coarse  leaves  of  a 


THE    PILOT.  87 

log-book  !"  cried  the  other  in  amazement ;  but 
perceiving  Barnstable  to  be  poring  over  the  con 
tents  of  his  mistress's  letter,  he  smiled  at  their 
mutual  folly,  and  continued  silent.  After  a  short 
time  spent  in  coo^^^ction,  Griffith  required  of 
his  friend  the  nat^M^^^ircumstances  of  his  in 
terview  with  Kfl  ^wden.  Barnstable  re 
lated  it,  briefly H  Mrred,  in  the  manner  al- 

"  Then,"  said  GnffithT"  Merry  is  the  only  one, 
besides  ourselves,  who  knows  of  this  meeting,  and 
he  will  be  too  chary  of  the  reputation  of  his  kins 
woman  to  mention  it." 

"  Her  reputation  needs  no  shield,  Mr.  Griffith," 
cried  her  lover ;  "  'tis  as  spotless  as  the  canvass 
above  your  head,  and — " 

"  Peace,  dear  Richard  ;  I  entreat  your  pardon ; 
my  words  may  have  conveyed  more  than  I  in 
tended  ;  but  it  is  important  that  our  measures 
should  be  secret,  as  well  as  prudently  concerted." 

"  We  must  get  them  both  off,"  returned  Barn- 
stable,  forgetting  his  displeasure  the  moment  it 
was  exhibited,  "  and  that  too  before  the  old  man 
takes  it  into  his  wise  head  to  leave  the  coast.  Did 
you  ever  get  a  sight  of  his  instructions,  or  does  he 
keep  silent  ?" 

"  As  the  grave.  This  is  the  first  time  we  have 
left  port,  that  he  has  not  conversed  freely  with  me 
on  the  nature  of  the  cruise  ;  but  not  a  syllable  has 
been  exchanged  between  us  on  the  subject,  since 
we  sailed  from  Brest." 

"  Ah  !  that  is  your  Jersey  bashfulness,"  said 
Barnstable  ;  "  wait  till  I  come  alongside  him, 
with  my  eastern  curiosity,  and  I  pledge  myself  to 
get  it  out  of  him  in  an  hour." 

"  'Twill  be  diamond  cut  diamond,  I  doubt,"  said 
Griffith,  laughing  ;  "  you  will  find  him  as  acute  at 


88  THE    PILOT. 

evasion,  as  you  can  possibly  be  at  a  cross-examina 
tion." 

"  At  any  rate,  he  gives  me  a  chance  to-day , 
you  know,  I  suppose,  tha|>  he  sent  for  me  to  at 
tend  a  consultation  of  Ijgjjjfcers  on  important 

"  I  did  not,"  return^  •fixing  his  eyes 

intently  on  the  speakerlB  Bias  he  to  offer  ?" 

"  Nay,  that  you  must^M^Rir  pilot  ;  for  while 
talking  to  me,  the  old  man  would  turn  and  look  at 
the  stranger,  every  minute,  as  if  watching  for  sig 
nals  how  to  steer." 

"  There  is  a  mystery  about  that  man,  and  oui 
connexion  with  him,  that  I  cannot  fathom,"  said 
Griffith.  "  But  I  hear  the  voice  of  Manual  call 
ing  for  me  ;  we  are  wanted  in  the  cabin.  Remem 
ber,  you  do  not  leave  the  ship  without  seeing  me 
again." 

"  No,  no,  my  dear  fellow,  from  the  public  we 
must  retire  to  another  private  consultation." 

The  young  men  arose,  and  Griffith,  throwing 
off  the  round-about  in  which  he  had  appeared  on 
deck,  drew  on  a  coat  of  more  formal  appearance, 
and  taking  a  sword  carelessly  in  his  hand,  they 
proceeded  together  along  the  passage  already  de 
scribed,  to  the  gun-deck,  where  they  entered,  with 
the  proper  ceremonials,  into  the  principal  cabin  of 
the  frigate. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


'Sempronius,  speak." 

Cato 


THE  arrangements  for  the  consultation  were 
brief  and  simple.  The  veteran  commander  of  the 
frigate  received  his  orders  with  punctilious  respect, 
and  pointing  to  the  chairs  that  were  placed  around 
the  table,  which  was  a  fixture  in  the  centre  of  his 
cabin,  he  silently  seated  himself,  and  his  example 
was  followed  by  all,  without  further  ceremony. 
In  taking  their  stations,  however,  a  quiet,  but  rigid 
observance  was  paid  to  the  rights  of  seniority  and 
rank.  On  the  right  of  the  Captain  was  placed 
Griffith,  as  next  in  authority  ;  and  opposite  to  him 
was  seated  the  commander  of  the  schooner.  The 
officer  of  marines,  who  was  included  in  the  num 
ber,  held  the  next  situation  in  point  of  precedence, 
the  same  order  being  observed  to  the  bottom  of 
the  table,  which  was  occupied  by  a  hard-featured, 
square-built,  athletic  man,  who  held  the  office  of 
sailing-master.  When  order  was  restored,  after 
the  short  interruption  of  taking  their  places,  the 
officer  who  had  required  the  advice  of  his  inferiors 
opened  the  business  on  which  he  demanded  their 
opinions. 

1§<  My  instructions  direct  me,  gentlemen,"  he 
8* 


90  THE    PILOT. 

said,  "  after  making  the  coast  of  England,  to  run 
the  land  down — " 

The  hand  of  Griffith  was  elevated  respectfully 
for  silence,  and  the  veteran  paused,  with  a  look 
that  inquired  the  reason  of  his  interruption. 

"  We  are  not  alone,"  said  the  lieutenant,  glanc 
ing  his  eye  towards  the  part  of  the  cabin  where 
the  pilot  stood,  leaning  on  one  of  the  guns,  in  an 
attitude  of  easy  indulgence.  ^ 

The  stranger  moved  not  at  this  direct  hint ;  nei 
ther  did  his  eye  change  from  its  close  survey  of  a 
chart  that  lay  near  him  on  the  deck.  The  captain 
dropped  his  voice  to  tones  of  cautious  respect,  as 
he  replied — 

"  'Tis  only  Mr.  Gray.  His  services  will  be  ne 
cessary  on  the  occasion,  and  therefore  nothing  need 
be  concealed  from  him." 

Glances  of  surprise  were  exchanged  among  the 
young  men,  but  Griffith  bowing  his  silent  acqui 
escence  in  the  decision  of  his  superior,  the  latter 
proceeded — 

"  I  was  ordered  to  watch  for  certain  signals  from 
the  headlands  that  we  made,  and  was  furnished 
with  the  best  of  charts,  and  such  directions  as  ena 
bled  us  to  stand  into  the  bay  we  entered  last  night. 
We  have  now  obtained  a  pilot,  and  one  who  has 
proved  himself  a  skilful  man  ;  such  a  one,  gentle 
men,  as  no  officer  need  hesitate  to  rely  on,  in  any 
emergency,  either  on  account  of  his  integrity  or  his 
knowledge." 

The  veteran  paused,  and  turned  his  looks  on  the 
countenances  of  the  listeners,  as  if  to  collect  their 
sentiments  on  this  important  point.  Receiving  no 
other  reply  than  the  one  conveyed  by  the  silent 
inclinations  of  the  heads  of  his  hearers,  the  com 
mander  resumed  his  explanations,  referring  to  an 
open  paper  in  his  hand — 


THE    PILOT.  91 

"  It  is  known  to  you  all,  gentlemen,  that  the 
unfortunate  question  of  retaliation  has  been  much 
agitated  between  the  two  governments,  our  own 
and  that  of  the  enemy.  For  this  reason,  and  for 
certain  political  purposes,  it  has  become  an  object 
of  solicitude  with  our  commissioners  in  Paris,  to 
obtain  a  few  individuals  of  character  from  the  ene 
my,  who  may  be  held  as  a  check  on  their  proceed 
ings,  at  the  same  time  it  brings  the  evils  of  war, 
from  our  own  shores,  home  to  those  who  have 
caused  it.  An  opportunity  now  offers  to  put  this 
plan  in  execution,  and  I  have  collected  you,  in  or 
der  to  consult  on  the  means." 

A  profound  silence  succeeded  this  unexpected 
communication  of  the  object  of  their  cruise.  After 
a  short  pause,  their  captain  added,  addressing  him 
self  to  the  sailing-master — 

"  What  course  would  you  advise  me  to  pursue, 
Mr.  Boltrope  ?" 

The  weather-beaten  seaman  who  was  thus  called 
on  to  break  through  the  difficulties  of  a  knotty 
point,  with  his  opinion,  laid  one  of  his  short,  bony 
hands  on  the  table,  and  began  to  twirl  an  inkstand 
with  great  industry,  while  with  the  other  he  con 
veyed  a  pen  to  his  mouth,  which  was  apparently 
masticated  with  all  the  relish  that  he  could  possi 
bly  have  felt  had  it  been  a  leaf  from  the  famous 
Virginian  weed.  But  perceiving  that  he  was  ex 
pected  to  answer,  after  looking  first  to  his  right 
hand,  and  then  to  his  left,  he  spoke  as  follows,  in  a 
hoarse,  thick  voice,  in  which  the  fogs  of  the  ocean 
seemed  to  have  united  with  sea-damps  and  colds, 
to  destroy  every  thing  like  melody — 

"  If  this  matter  is  ordered,  it  is  to  be  done,  1 
suppose,"  he  said  ;  "  for  the  old  rule  runs,  '  obey 
orders,  if  you  break  owners  ;'  though  the  maxim, 
which  says, c  one  hand  for  the  owner,  and  t'other 


92  THE    PILOT. 

for  yourself,'  is  quite  as  good,  and  has  saved  many 
a  hearty  fellow  from  a  fall  that  would  have  ba 
lanced  the  purser's  books.  Not  that  I  mean  a  pur 
ser's  books  are  not  as  good  as  any  other  man's, 
but  that  when  a  man  is  dead,  his  account  must  be 
closed,  or  there  will  be  a  false  muster.  Well,  if 
the  thing  is  to  be  done,  the  next  question  is,  how 
is  it  to  be  done  ?  There  is  many  a  man  that  knows 
there  is  too  much  canvass  on  a  ship,  who  can't  tell 
how  to  shorten  sail.  Well,  then,  if  the  thing  is  re 
ally  to  be  done,  we  must  either  land  a  gang  to  seize 
them,  or  we  must  show  false  lights,  and  sham  co 
lours,  to  lead  them  off  to  the  ship.  As  for  land 
ing,  Captain  Munson,  I  can  only  speak  for  one 
man,  and  that  is  myself,  which  is  to  say,  that  if 
you  run  the  ship  with  her  jib-boom  into  the  king 
of  England's  parlour  windows,  why,  I'm  consent 
ing,  nor  do  I  care  how  much  of  his  crockery  is 
cracked  in  so  doing  ;  but  as  to  putting  the  print  of 
my  foot  on  one  of  his  sandy  beaches,  if  I  do,  that 
is  always  speaking  for  only  one  man,  and  saving 
your  presence,  may  I  hope  to  be  d d." 

The  young  men  smiled  as  the  tough  old  seaman 
uttered  his  sentiments  so  frankly,  rising  with  his 
subject,  to  that  which  with  him  was  the  climax  of 
all  discussion  ;  but  his  commander,  who  was  but  a 
more  improved  scholar  from  the  same  rough  school, 
appeared  to  understand  his  arguments  entirely,  and 
without  altering  a  muscle  of  his  rigid  countenance, 
he  required  the  opinion  of  the  junior  lieutenant. 

The  young  man  spoke  firmly,  but  modestly, 
though  the  amount  of  what  he  said  was  not  much 
more  distinct  than  that  uttered  by  the  master,  and 
was  very  much  to  the  same  purpose,  with  the  ex 
ception,  that  he  appeared  to  entertain  no  personal 
reluctance  to  trusting  himself  on  dry  ground. 

The  opinions  of  the  others  grew  gradually  more 


THE    PILOT.  93 

explicit  and  clear,  as  they  ascended  in  the  scale  of 
rank,  until  it  came  to  the  turn  of  the  captain  of 
marines  to  speak.  There  was  a  trifling  exhibition 
of  professional  pride  about  the  soldier,  in  delivering 
his  sentiments  on  a  subject  that  embraced  a  good 
deal  more  of  his  peculiar  sort  of  duty  than  ordina 
rily  occurred  in  the  usual  operations  of  the  frigate. 

"  It  appears  to  me,  sir,  that  the  success  of  this 
expedition  depends  altogether  upon  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  conducted."  After  this  lucid  opening, 
the  soldier  hesitated  a  moment,  as  if  to  collect  his 
ideas  for  a  charge  that  should  look  down  all  oppo 
sition,  and  proceeded.  "  The  landing,  of  course, 
will  be  effected  on  a  fair  beach,  under  cover  of  the 
frigate's  guns,  and  could  it  be  possibly  done,  the 
schooner  should  be  anchored  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  throw  in  a  flanking  fire  on  the  point  of  debark 
ation.  The  .arrangements  for  the  order  of  march 
must  a  good  deal  depend  on  the  distance  to  go 
over ;  though  I  should  think,  sir,  an  advanced  party 
of  seamen,  to  act  as  pioneers  for  the  column  of 
marines,  should  be  pushed  a  short  distance  in  front, 
while  the  baggage  and  baggage-guard  might  rest 
upon  the  frigate,  until  the  enemy  was  driven  into 
the  interior,  when  it  could  advance  without  dan 
ger.  There  should  be  flank-guards,  under  the  or 
ders  of  two  of  the  oldest  midshipmen  ;  and  a  light 
corps  might  be  formed  of  the  top-men,  to  co  ope 
rate  with  the  marines.  Of  course,  sir,  Mr.  Griffith 
will  lead,  in  person,  the  musket-men  and  boarders, 
armed  with  their  long  pikes,  whom  I  presume  he 
will  hold  in  reserve,  as  I  trust  my  military  claims 
and  experience  entitle  me  to  the  command  of  the 
main  body." 

"  Well  done,  field  marshal  !"  cried  Barnstable, 
with  a  glee  that  seldom  regarded  time  or  place  ; 
"  you  should  never  let  salt-water  mould  your  but- 


94  THE    PILOT. 

tons,  but  in  Washington's  camp,  ay  !  and  in  Wash 
ington's  tent,  you  should  swing  your  hammock  in 
future.  Why,  sir,  do  you  think  we  are  about  to 
invade  England  ?" 

"  I  know  that  every  military  movement  should 
be  executed  with  precision,  Captain  Barnstable," 
returned  the  marine.  "  I  am  too  much  accus 
tomed  to  hear  the  sneers  of  the  sea-officers,  to  re 
gard  what  I  know  proceeds  from  ignorance.  If 
Captain  Munson  is  disposed  to  employ  me  and  my 
command  in  this  expedition,  I  trust  he  will  disco 
ver  that  marines  are  good  for  something  more  than 
to  mount  guard  or  pay  salutes."  Then,  turning 
haughtily  from  his  antagonist,  he  continued  to  ad 
dress  himself  to  their  common  superior,  as  if  dis 
daining  further  intercourse  with  one  who,  from  the 
nature  of  the  case,  must  be  unable  to  comprehend 
the  force  of  what  he  said.  "  It  will  be  prudent, 
Captain  Munson,  to  send  out  a  party  to  recon 
noitre,  before  we  march  ;  and  as  it  may  be  neces 
sary  to  defend  ourselves  in  case  of  a  repulse,  I 
would  beg  leave  to  recommend  that  a  corps  be  pro 
vided  with  entrenching  tools,  to  accompany  the 
expedition.  They  would  be  extremely  useful,  sir, 
in  assisting  to  throw  up  field-works  ;  though,  1 
doubt  not,  tools  might  be  found  in  abundance  in 
this  country,  and  labourers  impressed  for  the  ser 
vice,  on  an  emergency. — " 

This  was  too  much  for  the  risibility  of  Barnsta- 
ble,  who  broke  forth  in  a  burst  of  scornful  laugh 
ter,  which  no  one  saw  proper  to  interrupt ;  though 
Griffith,  on  turning  his  head,  to  conceal  the  smile 
that  was  gathering  on  his  own  face,  perceived  the 
fierce  glance  which  the  pilot  threw  at  the  merry 
seaman,  and  wondered  at  its  significance  and  impa 
tience.  When  Captain  Munson  thougbt  that  the 
mirth  of  the  lieutenant  was  concluded,  he  mildly 


THE    PILOT.  95 

desired  his  reasons  for  amusing  himself  so  exceed 
ingly  with  the  plans  of  the  marine. 

"  'Tis  a  chart  for  a  campaign  !"  cried  Barnsta 
ble,  "  and  should  be  sent  off  express  to  Congress, 
before  the  Frenchmen  are  brought  into  the  field !" 

"  Have  you  any  better  plan  to  propose,  Mr. 
Barnstable  ?"  inquired  the  patient  commander. 

"  Better !  ay,  one  that  will  take  no  time,  and 
cause  no  trouble,  to  execute  it,"  cried  the  other ; 
"  'tis  a  seaman's  job,  sir,  and  must  be  done  with  a 
seaman's  means." 

"  Pardon  me,  Captain  Barnstablo,"  interrupted 
the  marine,  whose  jocular  vein  was  entirely  ab 
sorbed  in  his  military  pride  ;  "  if  there  be  service 
to  be  done  on  shore,  I  claim  it  as  my  right  to  be 
employed." 

"  Claim  what  you  will,  soldier,  but  how  will  you 
carry  on  the  war  with  a  parcel  of  fellows  who 
don't  know  one  end  of  a  boat  from  the  other," 
returned  the  reckless  sailor.  "  Do  you  think,  that 
a  barge  or  a  cutter  is  to  be  beached  in  the  same 
manner  you  ground  firelock,  by  word  of  command  ? 
No,  no,  Captain  Manual — I  honour  your  courage, 
for  1  have  seen  it  tried,  but  d e  if — " 

"  You  forget,  we  wait  for  your  project,  Mr. 
Barnstable,"  said  the  veteran. 

"  I  crave  your  patience,  sir ;  but  no  project  is 
necessary.  Point  out  the  bearings  and  distance  of 
the  place  where  the  men  you  want  are  to  be  found, 
and  I  will  take  the  heel  of  the  gale,  and  run  into  the 
land,  always  speaking  for  good  water  and  no  rocks. 
Mr.  Pilot,  you  will  accompany  me,  for  you  carry 
as  true  a  map  of  the  bottom  of  these  seas  in  your 
head  as  ever  was  made  of  dry  ground.  I  will  look 
out  for  good  anchorage,  or  if  the  wind  should  blow 
off  shore,  let  the  schooner  stand  off  and  on,  till  we 
should  be  ready  to  take  the  broad  sea  again.  I 


96  THE    PILOT. 

would  land,  out  of  my  whale-boat,  with  long  Tom 
and  a  boat's  crew,  and  finding  out  the  place  you 
will  describe,  we  shall  go  up,  and  take  the  men 
you  want,  and  bring  them  aboard.  It's  all  plain- 
sailing  ;  though,  as  it  is  a  well-peopled  country, 
it  may  be  necessary  to  do  our  shore  work  in  the 
dark." 

"  Mr.  Griffith,  we  only  wait  for  your  senti 
ments,"  proceeded  the  captain,  "  when,  by  com 
paring  opinions,  we  may  decide  on  the  most  pru 
dent  course." 

The  first  lieutenant  had  been  much  absorbed 
in  thought,  during  the  discussion  of  the  subject, 
and  might  have  been,  on  that  account,  better  pre 
pared  to  give  his  opinion  with  effect.  Pointing 
to  the  man  who  yet  stood  behind  him,  leaning  on 
a  gun,  he  commenced  by  asking — 

"  Is  it  your  intention  that  man  shall  accompany 
the  party  ?" 

"  It  is." 

"  And  from  him  you  expect  the  necessary  in 
formation,  sir,  to  guide  our  movements  ?" 

"  You  are  altogether  right." 

"  If,  sir,  he  has  but  a  moiety  of  the  skill  on  the 
land  that  he  possesses  on  the  water,  I  will  answer 
for  his  success,"  returned  the  lieutenant,  bowing 
slightly  to  the  stranger,  who  received  the  compli 
ment  by  a  cold  inclination  of  his  head.  "  I  must 
desire  the  indulgence  of  both  Mr.  Barnstable  and 
Captain  Manual,"  he  continued,  "  and  claim  the 
command  as  of  right  belonging  to  my  rank." 

"  It  belongs  naturally  to  the  schooner,"  exclaim 
ed  the  impatient  Barnstable. 

"  There  may  be  enough  for  us  all  to  do,"  said 
Griffith,  elevating  a  finger  to  the  other,  in  a  man 
ner,  and  with  an  impressive  look,  that  was  in 
stantly  comprehended.  "  I  neither  agree  wholly 


THE    PILOT.  97 

with  the  one  nor  the  other  of  these  gentlemen, 
'Tis  said,  that  since  our  appearance  on  the  coast, 
the  dwellings  of  many  of  the  gentry  are  guarded 
by  small  detachments  of  soldiers  from  the  neigh 
bouring  towns." 

"  Who  says  it  ?"  asked  the  pilot,  advancing 
among  them  with  a  suddenness  that  caused  a  ge- 
neial  silence. 

"  I  say  it,  sir,"  returned  the  lieutenant,  when 
the  momentary  surprise  had  passed  away. 

"  Can  you  vouch  for  it  ?" 

"  I  can." 

"  Name  a  house,  or  an  individual,  that  is  thus 
protected." 

Griffith  gazed  at  the  man  who  thus  forgot  him 
self  in  the  midst  of  a  consultation  like  the  present, 
and  yielding  to  his  native  pride,  hesitated  to  re 
ply.  But  mindful  of  the  declarations  of  his  cap 
tain,  and  the  recent  services  of  the  pilot,  he  at 
length  said,  with  a  little  embarrassment  of  man 
ner — 

"  I  know  it  to  be  the  fact,  in  the  dwelling  of  a 
Colonel  Howard,  who  resides  but  a  few  leagues  to 
the  north  of  us." 

The  stranger  started  at  the  name,  and  then 
raising  his  eye  keenly  to  the  face  of  the  young 
man,  appeared  to  study  his  thoughts  in  his  varying 
countenance.  But  the  action,  and  the  pause  that 
followed,  were  of  short  continuance.  His  lip 
slightly  curled,  whether  in  scorn  or  with  a  con 
cealed  smile,  would  have  been  difficult  to  say,  so 
closely  did  it  resemble  both,  and  as  he  dropped 
quietly  back  to  his  place  at  the  gun,  he  said — 

"  'Tis  more  than  probable  you  are  right,  sir ; 
and  if  I  might  presume  to  advise  Captain  Mun- 
son,  it  would  be  to  lay  great  weight  on  your 
opinion." 


98  THE    PILOT. 

Griffith  turned,  to  see  if  he  could  comprehend 
more  meaning  in  the  manner  of  the  stranger  than 
his  words  expressed,  but  his  face  was  again  shaded 
by  his  hand,  and  his  eyes  were  once  more  fixed 
on  the  chart  with  the  same  vacant  abstraction  as 
before. 

"  I  have  said,  sir,  that  I  agree  wholly  neither 
with  Mr.  Barnstable  nor  Captain  Manual,"  con 
tinued  the  lieutenant,  after  a  short  pause.  u  The 
command  of  this  party  is  mine,  as  the  senior  offi 
cer,  and  I  must  beg  leave  to  claim  it.  I  certainly 
do  not  think  the  preparation  that  Captain  Manual 
advises  necessary ;  neither  would  I  undertake  the 
duty  with  as  little  caution  as  Mr.  Barnstable  pro 
poses.  If  there  are  soldiers  to  be  encountered, 
we  should  have  soldiers  to  oppose  to  them  ;  but 
as  it  must  be  sudden  boat-work,  and  regular  evo 
lutions  must  give  place  to  a  seaman's  bustle,  a  sea- 
officer  should  command.  Is  my  request  granted, 
Captain  Munson  ?" 

The  veteran  replied,  without  hesitation — 

tc  It  is,  sir ;  it  was  my  intention  to  offer  you 
the  service,  and  I  rejoice  to  see  you  accept  it  so 
cheerfully." 

Griffith  with  difficulty  concealed  the  satisfaction 
with  which  he  listened  to  his  commander,  and  a 
radiant  smile  illumined  his  pale  features,  when  he 
observed — 

"  With  me  then,  sir,  let  the  responsibility  rest. 
I  request  that  Captain  Manual,  with  twenty  men, 
may  be  put  under  my  orders,  if  that  gentleman 
does  not  dislike  the  duty."  The  marine  bowed 
and  cast  a  glance  of  triumph  at  Barnstable  "  I 
will  take  my  own  cutter,  with  her  tried  crew,  go 
on  board  the  schooner,  and  when  the  wind  lulls, 
we  will  run  in  to  the  land,  and  then  be  governed 
by  circumstances." 


« 

THE    PILOT.  99 

The  commander  of  the  schooner  threw  back  the 
triumphant  look  of  the  marine,  and  exclaimed,  in 
his  joyous  manner — 

"  'Tis  a  good  plan,  and  done  like  a  seaman,  Mr. 
Griffith.  Ay,  ay,  let  the  schooner  be  employed, 
and  if  it  be  necessary,  you  shall  see  her  anchored 
in  one  of  their  duck-ponds,  with  her  broadside  to 
bear  on  the  parlour- windows  of  the  best  house  in 
the  island  !  But  twenty  marines  !  they  will  cause 
a  jam  in  my  little  craft." 

"  Not  a  man  less  than  twenty  would  be  pru 
dent,"  returned  Griffith.  "  More  service  may  of 
fer  than  that  we  seek." 

Barnstable  well  understood  his  allusion,  but  still 
he  replied — 

"  Make  it  seamen,  and  I  will  give  you  room  for 
thirty.  But  these  soldiers  never  know  how  to 
stow  away  their  arms  and  legs,  unless  at  a  drill. 
One  will  take  the  room  of  two  sailors  ;  they  swing 
their  hammocks  athwart-ships,  heads  to  leeward, 
and  then  turn-out  wrong  end  uppermost  at  the  call. 
Why,  damn  it,  sir,  the  chalk  and  rotten-stone  of 
twenty  soldiers  will  chock  my  hatches  !" 

"  Give  me  the  launch,  Captain  Munson  !"  ex 
claimed  the  indignant  marine,  "  and  wre  will  follow 
Mr.  Griffith  in  an  open  boat,  rather  than  put  Cap 
tain  Barnstable  to  so  much  inconvenience." 

"  No,  no,  Manual,"  cried  the  other,  extending 
his  muscular  arm  across  the  table,  with  an  open 
palm,  to  the  soldier ;  "  you  would  all  become  so 
many  Jonahs  in  uniform,  and  I  doubt  whether  the 
fish  could  digest  your  cartridge-boxes  and  bayonet- 
belts.  You  shall  go  with  me,  and  learn,  with  your 
own  eyes,  whether  we  keep  the  cat's-watch  aboard 
the  Ariel  that  you  joke  about." 

The  laugh  was  general,  at  the  expense  of  the 
soldier,  if  we  except  the  pilot  and  the  commander 


t  THE    PILOT. 

of  the  frigate.  The  former  was  a  silent,  and  ap 
parently  an  abstracted,  but  in  reality  a  deeply  in 
terested  listener  to  the  discourse  ;  and  there  were 
moments  when  he  bent  his  looks  on  the  speakers, 
as  if  he  sought  more  in  their  characters  than  was 
exhibited  by  the  gay  trifling  of  the  moment.  Cap 
tain  Munson  seldom  allowed  a  muscle  of  his  wrin 
kled  features  to  disturb  their  repose  ;  and  if  he 
had  not  the  real  dignity  to  repress  the  untimely 
mirth  of  his  officers,  he  had  too  much  good  nature 
to  wish  to  disturb  their  harmless  enjoyments.  He 
expressed  himself  satisfied  with  the  proposed  ar 
rangements,  and  beckoned  to  his  steward  to  place 
before  them  the  usual  beverage,  with  which  all 
their  consultations  concluded. 

The  sailing-master  appeared  to  think  that  the 
same  order  was  to  be  observed  in  their  potations 
as  in  council,  and  helping  himself  to  an  allow 
ance  which  retained  its  hue  even  in  its  diluted 
state,  he  first  raised  it  to  the  light,  and  then  ob 
served — 

"  This  ship's-water  is  nearly  the  colour  of  rum 
of  itself ;  if  it  only  had  its  flavour,  what  a  set  of 
hearty  dogs  we  should  be.  Mr.  Griffith,  I  find 
you  are  willing  to  haul  your  land-tacks  aboard. 
Well,  it's  natural  for  youth  to  love  the  earth  ;  but 
there  is  one  man,  and  he  is  sailing-master  of  this 
ship,  who  saw  land  enough,  last  night,  to  last  him 
a  twelvemonth.  But  if  you  will  go,  here's  a  good 
land-fall,  and  a  better  offing  to  you.  Captain 
Munson,  my  respects  to  you.  I  say,  sir,  if  we 
should  keep  the  ship  more  to  the  south'ard,  it's 
my  opinion,  and  that's  but  one  man's,  we  should 
fall  in  with  some  of  the  enemy's  homeward-bound 
West-Indiamen,  and  find  wherewithal  to  keep  the 
life  in  us  when  we  see  fit  to  go  ashore  ourselves." 

As  the  tough  old  sailor  made  frequent  applica- 


THE    PILOT.  101 

tion  of  the  glass  to  his  mouth  with  the  one  hand, 
and  kept  a  firm  hold  of  the  decanter  with  the 
other,  during  this  speech,  his  companions  were 
compelled  to  listen  to  his  eloquence,  or  depart  with 
their  thirst  unassuaged.  Barnstabie,  however, 
quite  coolly  dispossessed  the  tar  of  the  bottle,  and 
mixing  for  himself  a  more  equal  potation,  observed, 
in  the  act — 

"  That  is  the  most  remarkable  glass  of  grog  you 
have,  Boltrope,  that  I  ever  sailed  with  ;  it  draws 
as  little  water  as  the  Ariel,  and  is  as  hard  to  find 
the  bottom.  If  your  spirit  room  enjoys  the  same 
sort  of  engine  to  replenish  it,  as  you  pump  out 
your  rum,  Congress  will  sail  this  frigate  cheaply." 

The  other  officers  helped  themselves  with  still 
greater  moderation,  Griffith  barely  moistening  his 
lips,  and  the  pilot  rejecting  the  offered  glass  alto 
gether.  Captain  Munson  continued  standing,  and 
his  officers,  perceiving  that  their  presence  was  no 
longer  necessary,  bowed,  and  took  their  leave. 
As  Griffith  was  retiring  last,  he  felt  a  hand  laid 
lightly  on  his  shoulder,  and  turning,  perceived  that 
he  was  detained  by  the  pilot. 

"  Mr.  Griffith,"  he  said,  when  they  were  quite 
alone  with  the  commander  of  the  frigate,  "  the 
occurrences  of  the  last  night  should  teach  us  con 
fidence  in  each  other ;  without  it,  we  go  on  a  dan 
gerous  and  fruitless  errand." 

"  Is  the  hazard  equal  ?"  returned  the  youth. 
u  I  am  known  to  all  to  be  the  man  I  seem — am  in 
the  service  of  my  country — belong  to  a  family,  and 
enjoy  a  name,  that  is  a  pledge  for  my  loyalty  to 
the  cause  of  America — and  yet  I  trust  myself  on 
hostile  ground,  in  the  midst  of  enemies,  with  a 
weak  arm,  and  under  circumstances  where  trea 
chery  would  prove  my  ruin.  Who  and  what  is 
the  man  who  4ius  enjoys  your  confidence,  Captain 
9* 


102  THE    PILOT. 

Munson  ?  I  ask  the  question  less  for  myself  than 
for  the  gallant  men  who  will  fearlessly  follow 
wherever  I  lead." 

A  shade  of  dark  displeasure  crossed  the  features 
of  the  stranger,  at  one  part  of  this  speech,  and  at  its 
close  he  sunk  into  deep  thought.  The  commander, 
however,  replied — 

"  There  is  a  show  of  reason  in  your  question, 
Mr.  Griffith — and  yet  you  are  not  the  man  to  be 
told  that  implicit  obedience  is  what  I  have  a  right 
to  expect.  I  have  not  your  pretensions,  sir,  by 
birth  or  education,  and  yet  Congress  have  not  seen 
proper  to  overlook  my  years  and  services.  I  com 
mand  this  frigate — " 

"  Say  no  more,"  interrupted  the  pilot.  "  There 
is  reason  in  his  doubts,  and  they  shall  be  appeased. 
I  like  the  proud  and  fearless  eye  of  the  young  man, 
and  while  he  dreads  a  gibbet  from  my  hands,  I 
will  show  him  how  to  repose  a  noble  confidence. 
Read  this,  sir,  and  tell  me  if  you  distrust  me 
now  ?" 

While  the  stranger  spoke,  he  thrust  his  hand 
into  the  bosom  of  his  dress,  and  drew  forth  a  parch 
ment,  decorated  with  ribands,  and  bearing  a  mas 
sive  seal,  which  he  opened,  and  laid  on  the  table 
before  the  youth.  As  he  pointed  with  his  finger 
impressively,  <o  different  parts  of  the  writing,  his 
eye  kindled  with  a  look  of  unusual  fire,  and  there 
was  a  faint  tinge  discernible  on  his  pallid  features 
when  he  spoke. 

"  See  !"  he*  said,  "  royalty  itself  does  not  hesi 
tate  to  bear  witness  in  my  favour,  and  that  is  not  a 
name  to  occasion  dread  to  an  American." 

Griffith  gazed  with  wonder  at  the  fair  signature 
of  the  unfortunate  Louis,  which  graced  the  bottom 
of  the  parchment ;  but  when  his  eye  obeyed  the 
signal  of  the  stranger,  and  rested  on  the  body  of 


THE    PILOT.  103 

the  instrument,  he  started  back  from  the  table,  and 
fixing  his  animated  eyes  on  the  pilot,  he  cried, 
while  a  glow  of  fiery  courage  flitted  across  his 
countenance — 

"  Lead  on  !  I'll  follow  you  to  death  !" 
A  smile  of  gratified  exultation  struggled  around 
the  lips  of  the  stranger,  who  took  the  arm  of  the 
young  man,  and  led  him  into  a  state-room,  leaving 
the  commander  of  the  frigate,  standing  in  his  un 
moved  and  quiet  manner,  a  spectator  of,  but  hard 
ly  an  actor  in  the  scene. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

M  Fierce  bounding,  forward  sprung  the  ship. 
"  Like  grayhound  starting  from  the  slip, 
"  To  seize  his  flying  prey." 

Lord  of  the  Islet 

ALTHOUGH  the  subject  of  the  consultation  re 
mained  a  secret  with  those  whose  opinions  were  re 
quired,  yet  enough  of  the  result  leaked  out  among 
the  subordinate  officers,  to  throw  the  whole  crew 
into  a  state  of  eager  excitement.  The  rumour 
spread  itself  along  the  decks  of  the  frigate,  with 
the  rapidity  of  an  alarm,  that  an  expedition  was  to 
attempt  the  shore  on  some  hidden  service,  dictated 
by  the  Congress  itself;  and  conjectures  were  made 
respecting  its  force  and  destination,  with  all  that 
interest  which  might  be  imagined  would  exist 
among  the  men  whose  lives  or  liberties  were  to 
abide  the  issue.  A  gallant  and  reckless  daring, 
mingled  with  the  desire  of  novelty,  however,  was 
the  prevailing  sentiment  among  the  crew,  who 
would  have  received  with  cheers  the  intelligence 
that  their  vessel  was  commanded  to  force  the  pas 
sage  of  the  united  British  fleet.  A  few  of  the  old 
er  and  more  prudent  of  the  sailors  were  excep 
tions  to  this  thoughtless  hardihood,  and  one  or  two, 
among  whom  the  cockswain  of  the  whaleboat  was 
the  most  conspicuous,  ventured  to  speak  doubting, 
ly  of  all  sorts  of  land  service,  as  being  of  a  nature 
never  to  be  attempted  by  seamen- 


THE    PILOT.  105 

Captain  Manual  had  his  men  paraded  in  the 
weather-gangway,  and  after  a  short  address,  calcu 
lated  to  inflame  their  military  ardour  and  patriot 
ism,  acquainted  them  that  he  required  twenty 
volunteers,  which  was  in  truth  half  their  number, 
for  a  dangerous  service.  After  a  short  pause,  the 
company  stepped  forward,  like  one  man,  and  an 
nounced  themselves  as  ready  to  follow  him  to  the 
end  of  the  world.  The  marine  cast  a  look  over 
his  shoulder,  at  this  gratifying  declaration,  in  quest 
of  Barnstable ;  but  observing  that  the  sailor  was 
occupied  with  some  papers,  on  a  distant  part  of  the 
quarter-deck,  he  proceeded  to  make  a  most  im 
partial  division  among  the  candidates  for  glory ; 
taking  care  at  the  same  time,  to  cull  his  company 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  himself  the  flower  of 
his  men,  and,  consequently,  to  leave  the  ship  the 
refuse. 

While  this  arrangement  was  taking  place,  and 
the  crew  of  the  frigate  was  in  this  state  of  excite 
ment,  Griffith  ascended  to  the  deck,  his  counte 
nance  flushed  with  unusual  enthusiasm,  and  his 
eyes  beaming  with  a  look  of  animation  and  gayety, 
that  had  long  been  strangers  to  the  face  of  the 
young  man.  He  was  giving  forth  the  few  neces 
sary  orders  to  the  seamen  he  was  to  take  with  him 
from  the  ship,  when  Barnstable  again  motioned 
him  to  follow,  and  led  the  way  once  more  to  the 
Btate-room. 

"  Let  the  wind  blow  its  pipe  out,"  said  the 
commander  of  the  Ariel,  when  they  were  seated  ; 
"  there  will  be  no  landing  on  the  eastern  coast  of 
England  till  the  sea  goes  down.  But  this  Kate 
was  made  for  a  sailor's  wife  !  See  Griffith,  what 
a  set  of  signals  she  has  formed,  out  of  her  own 
cunning  head." 

u  I  hope  your  opinion  may  prove  ii  ue,  and  that 


106  THE    PILOT 

you  may  be  the  happy  sailor  who  is  to  wed  her,*' 
returned  the  other.     "  The  girl  has  indeed  dis 
covered  surprising  art  in  this  business  !  where  could 
she  have  learnt  the  method  and  system  so  well  ?" 

"  Where  !  why,  where  she  learnt  better  things ; 
how  to  prize  a  whole-hearted  seaman,  for  instance. 
Do  you  think  that  my  tongue  was  jammed  in  my 
mouth,  all  the  time  we  used  to  sit  by  the  side  of 
the  river  in  Carolina,  and  that  we  found  nothing 
to  talk  about  !" 

"  Did  you  amuse  your  mistress  with  treatises 
on  the  art  of  navigation,  and  the  science  of  sig 
nals  ?"  said  Griffith,  smiling. 

"  I  answered  her  questions,  Mr.  Griffith,  as  any 
civil  man  would  to  a  woman  he  loved.  The  girl 
has  as  much  curiosity  as  one  of  my  own  towns- 
women  who  has  weathered  cape  forty  without  a 
husband,  and  her  tongue  goes  like  a  dogvane  in  a 
calm,  first  one  way  and  then  another.  But  here 
is  her  dictionary.  Now  own,  Griff.,  in  spite  of 
your  college  learning  and  sentimentals,  that  a  wo 
man  of  ingenuity  and  cleverness  is  a  very  good  sort 
of  a  helpmate." 

"  I  never  doubted  the  merits  of  Miss  Plowden," 
said  the  other,  with  a  droll  gravity  that  often  min 
gled  with  his  deeper  feelings,  the  result  of  a  sai 
lor's  habits,  blended  with  native  character.  "  But 
this  indeed  surpasses  all  my  expectations  !  Why, 
she  has,  in  truth,  made  a  most  judicious  selection 
of  phrases.  c  No.  168.  ****  indelible  ;'  <  169.**** 
end  only  with  life ;'  '  170.  ****  I  fear  yours  mis 
leads  me  ;'  '171.—'" 

"  Pshaw  !"  exclaimed  Barnstable,  snatching  the 
book  from  before  the  laughing  eyes  of  Griffith  , 
"  what  folly,  to  throw  away  our  time  now  on  such 
nonsense.  What  think  you  of  this  expedition  to 
the  land  ?» 


THE   PILOT.  10T 

"  That  it  may  be  the  means  of  rescuing  the  la 
dies,  though  it  fail  in  making  the  prisoners  we  an 
ticipate." 

"  But  this  pilot !  you  remember  that  he  holds 
us  by  our  necks,  and  can  run  us  all  up  to  the  yard- 
arm  of  some  English  ship,  whenever  he  chooses  to 
open  his  throat  at  their  threats  or  bribes." 

"  It  would  have  been  better  that  he  should  have 
cast  the  ship  ashore,  when  he  had  her  entangled  in 
the  shoals  ;  it  would  have  been  our  last  thought  to 
suspect  him  of  treachery  then,"  returned  Griffith. 
"  I  follow  him  with  confidence,  and  must  believe 
that  we  are  safer  with  him  than  we  should  be  with 
out  him." 

"  Let  him  lead  to  the  dwelling  of  his  fox-hunt 
ing  ministers  of  state,"  cried  Barnstable,  thrusting 
his  book  of  signals  into  his  bosom  ;  "  but  here  is  a 
chart  that  will  show  us  the  way  to  the  port  we 
wish  to  find.  Let  my  foot  once  more  touch  terra 
firma,  and  you  may  write  craven  against  my  name, 
if  that  laughing  vixen  slips  her  cable  before  my 
eyes,  and  shoots  into  the  wind's  eye  again  like  a 
flying-fish  chased  by  a  dolphin.  Mr.  Griffith,  we 
must  have  the  chaplain  with  us  to  the  shore." 

"  The  madness  of  love  is  driving  you  into  the 
errors  of  the  soldier.  Would  you  lie-by  to  hear 
sermons,  with  a  flying  party  like  ours  ?" 

"  Nay,  nay,  we  must  lay-to  for  nothing  that  is 
not  unavoidable  ;  but  there  are  so  many  tacks  in 
such  a  chase,  when  one  has  time  to  breathe,  that  we 
might  as  well  spend  our  leisure  in  getting  that  fel 
low  to  splice  us  together.  He  has  a  handy  way 
with  a  prayer-book,  and  could  do  the  job  as  well 
as  a  bishop,  and  I  should  like  to  be  able  to  say, 
that  this  is  the  last  time  these  two  saucy  names, 
which  are  written  at  the  bottom  of  this  letter,  should 
ever  be  seen  sailing  in  the  company  of  each  other." 


108  THE    PILOT. 

u  It  will  not  do,"  said  his  friend,  shaking  his 
head,  and  endeavouring  lo  force  a  smile  which  his 
feelings  suppressed ;  "  it  will  not  do,  Richard  ;  we 
must  yield  our  own  inclinations  to  the  service  of 
our  country  ;  nor  is  this  pilot  a  man  who  will  con 
sent  to  be  led  from  his  purpose." 

"  Then  let  him  follow  his  purpose  alone,"  cried 
Barnstable.  "  There  is  no  human  power,  always 
saving  my  superior  officer,  that  shall  keep  me  from 
throwing  abroad  these  tiny  signals,  and  having  a 
private  talk  with  my  dark-eyed  Kate.  But  for  a 
paltry  pilot !  he  may  luff  and  bear  away  as  he 
pleases,  while  I  shall  steer  as  true  as  a  magnet  for 
that  old  rum,  where  J  can  bring  my  eyes  to  bear 
on  that  romantic  wing  and  three  smoky  vanes.  Not 
that  I'll  forget  my  duty  ;  no,  I'll  help  you  catch 
the  Englishmen  ;  but  when  that  is  done,  hey  !  for 
Katherine  Plowden  and  my  true  love  !" 

"  Hush,  madcap !  the  ward-room  holds  long 
ears,  and  our  bulkheads  grow  thin  by  wear.  I 
must  keep  you  and  myself  to  our  duty.  This  is 
no  children's  game  that  we  play ;  it  seems  the 
commissioners  at  Paris  have  thought  proper  to  em 
ploy  a  frigate  in  the  sport." 

Barnstable's  gayety  was  a  little  repressed  by  the 
grave  manner  of  his  companion  ;  but  after  reflect 
ing  a  moment,  he  started  on  his  feet,  and  made  the 
usual  movements  for  departure. 

u  Whither?"  asked  Griffith,  gently  detaining  his 
impatient  friend. 

"  To  old  Moderate  ;  I  have  a  proposal  to  make 
that  may  remove  every  difficulty." 

"  Name  it  to  me,  then ;  I  am  in  his  council,  and 
may  save  you  the  trouble  and  mortification  of  a 
refusal." 

"  How  many  of  those  gentry  does  he  wish  to 
line  his  cabin  with  ?" 


THE    PILOT.  109 

"  The  pilot  has  named  no  less  than  six,  all  men 
of  rank  and  consideration  with  the  enemy.  Two 
of  them  are  peers,  two  more  belong  to  the  com 
mons'  house  of  parliament,  one  is  a  general,  and 
the  sixth,  like  ourselves,  is  a  sailor,  and  holds  the 
rank  of  captain.  They  muster  at  a  hunting  seat 
near  the  coast,  and  believe  me  the  scheme  is  not 
without  its  plausibility." 

"  Well,  then,  there  are  two  a-piece  fcr  us.  You 
follow  the  pilot,  if  you -will ;  but  let  me  sheer  off 
for  this  dwelling  of  Colonel  Howard,  with  my 
cockswain  and  boat's-crew.  I  will  surprise  his 
house,  release  the  ladies,  and  on  my  way  back, 
lay  my  hands  on  two  of  the  first  lords  I  fall  in  with. 
I  suppose,  for  our  business,  one  is  as  good  as  an 
other." 

Griffith  could  not  repress  a  faint  laugh,  while  he 
replied — 

"  Though  they  are  said  to  be  each  other's 
peers,  there  is,  I  believe,  some  difference  even  in 
the  quality  of  lords.  England  might  thank  us  for 
ridding  her  of  some  among  them.  Neither  are 
they  to  be  found,  like  beggars,  under  every  hedge. 
No,  no,  the  men  we  seek,  must  have  something 
better  than  their  nobility  to  recommend  them  to 
our  favour.  But  let  us  examine  more  closely  into 
this  plan  and  map  of  Miss  Plowden;  something 
may  occur,  that  shall  yet  bring  the  place  within 
our  circuit,  like  a  contingent  duty  of  the  cruise." 

Barnstable  reluctantly  relinquished  his  own 
wild  plan,  to  the  more  sober  judgment  of  his  friend, 
and  they  passed  an  hour  together,  inquiring  into 
the  practicability,  and  consulting  on  the  means,  of 
making  their  public  duty  subserve  the  purposes 
of  their  private  feelings. 

The  gale  continued  to  blow  heavily,  during  the 
10 


110  THE    PILOT. 

whole  of  that  morning ;  but  towards  noon,  the 
usual  indications  of  better  weather  became  ap 
parent.  During  these  few  hours  of  inaction  in 
the  frigate,  the  marines,  who  were  drafted  for  ser 
vice  on  the  land,  moved  through  the  vessel  with  a 
busy  and  stirring  air,  as  if  they  were  about  to  par 
ticipate  in  the  glory  and  danger  of  the  campaign 
their  officer  had  planned,  while  the  few  seamen 
who  were  to  accompany  the  expedition  steadily 
paced  the  deck,  with  their,  hands  thrust  into  the 
bosoms  of  their  neat  blue  jackets,  or,  occasionally, 
stretched  towards  the  horizon,  as  their  fingers 
traced,  for  their  less  experienced  shipmates,  the 
signs  of  an  abatement  in  the  gale  among  the  driv 
ing  clouds.  The  last  lagger  among  the  soldiers  had 
appeared  with  his  knapsack  on  his  back  in  the  lee- 
gangway,  where  his  comrades  were  collected,  arm- 
ed  and  accoutred  for  the  strife,  when  Captain 
Munson  ascended  to  the  quarter-deck,  accompa 
nied  by  the  stranger  and  his  first  lieutenant.  A 
word  was  spoken  by  the  latter  in  a  low  voice  to  a 
midshipman  who  skipped  gayly  along  the  deck, 
and  presently  the  shrill  call  of  the  boatswain  was 
heard,  preceding  the  hoarse  cry  of — 
"  "  Away  there,  you  Tigers,  away  !" 

A  smart  roll  of  the  drum  followed,  and  the  ma 
rines  paraded,  while  the  six  seamen  who  belonged 
to  the  cutter  that  owned  so  fierce  a  name,  made 
their  preparations  for  lowering  their  little  bark 
from  the  quarter  of  the  frigate  into  the  troubled 
sea.  Every  thing  was  conducted  in  the  most  ex 
act  order,  and  with  a  coolness  and  skill  that  bid 
defiance  to  the  turbulence  of  the  angry  elements. 
The  marines  were  safely  transported  from  the  ship 
to  the  schooner,  under  the  favouring  shelter  of  the 
former,  though  the  boat  appeared,  at  times,  to  be 


THE    PILOT.  Ill 

seeking  the  cavities  of  the  ocean,  and  again,  to  be 
riding  in  the  clouds,  as  she  passed  from  one  vessel 
to  the  other. 

At  length  it  was  announced  that  the  cutter  was 
ready  to  receive  the  officers  of  the  party.  The 
pilot  walked  aside,  and  held  private  discourse,  for 
a  few  moments,  with  the  commander,  who  listen 
ed  to  his  sentences  with  marked  and  singular  at 
tention.  When  their  conference  was  ended,  the 
veteran  bared  his  grey  head  to  the  blasts,  and  of 
fered  his  hand  to  the  other,  with  a  seaman's  frank 
ness,  mingled  with  the  deference  of  an  inferior. 
The  compliment  was  courteously  returned  by  the 
stranger,  wTho  turned  quickly  on  his  heel,  and  di 
rected  the  attention  of  those  who  awaited  his 
movements,  by  a  significant  gesture,  to  the  gang 
way. 

"  Come,  gentlemen,  let  us  go,"  said  Griffith, 
starting  from  a  reverie,  and  bowing  his  hasty  com 
pliments  to  his  brethren  in  arms. 

When  it  appeared  that  his  superiors  were  ready 
to  enter  the  boat,  the  boy,  who,  by  nautical  cour 
tesy,  was  styled  Mr.  Merry,  and  who  had  been 
ordered  to  be  in  readiness,  sprang  over  the  side 
of  the  frigate,  and  glided  into  the  cutter,  with  the 
activity  of  a  squirrel.  But  the  captain  of  marines 
paused,  and  cast  a  meaning  glance  at  the  pilot, 
whose  place  it  was  to  precede  him.  The  stranger, 
as  he  lingered  on  the  deck,  was  examining  the 
aspect  of  the  heavens,  and  seemed  unconscious  of 
the  expectations  of  the  soldier,  who  gave  vent  to 
his  impatience,  after  a  moment's  detention,  by  say 
ing — 

"  We  wait  for  you,  Mr.  Gray." 

Aroused  by  the  sound  of  his  name,  the  pilot 
glanced  his  quick  eye  on  the  speaker,  but  instead 
of  advancing,  he  gently  bent  his  body,  as  he  again 


112  THE    PILOT. 

signed  towards  the  gangway  with  his  hand.  To 
the  astonishment  not  only  of  the  soldier ,  but  of  all 
who  witnessed  this  breach  of  naval  etiquette,  Grif 
fith  bowed  low,  and  entered  the  boat  with  the  same 
promptitude  as  if  he  were  preceding  an  admiral. 
Whether  the  stranger  became  conscious  of  his 
want  of  courtesy,  or  was  too  indifferent  to  sur 
rounding  objects  to  note  occurrences,  he  immedi 
ately  followed  himself,  leaving  to  the  marine  the 
post  of  honour.  The  latter,  who  was  distinguish 
ed  for  his  skill  in  all  matters  of  naval  or  military 
etiquette,  thought  proper  to  apologize,  at  a  fitting 
time,  to  the  first  lieutenant,  for  suffering  his  senior 
officer  to  precede  him  into  a  boat,  but  never  failed 
to  show  a  becoming  exultation,  when  he  recounted 
the  circumstance,  by  dwelling  on  the  manner  in 
wrhich  he  had  brought  down  the  pride  of  the 
haughty  pilot. 

Barnstable  had  been  several  hours  on  board  his 
little  vessel,  which  was  every  way  prepared  for 
their  reception  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  heavy  cutter 
of  the  frigate  was  hoisted  on  her  deck,  he  an 
nounced  that  the  schooner  was  ready  to  proceed. 
It  has  been  already  intimated,  that  the  Ariel  be 
longed  to  the  smallest  class  of  sea-vessels,  and  as 
the  symmetry  of  her  construction  reduced  even 
that  size  in  appearance,  she  was  peculiarly  well 
adapted  to  the  sort  of  service  in  which  she  was 
about  to  be  employed.  Notwithstanding  her  light 
ness  rendered  her  nearly  as  buoyant  as  a  cork,  and 
at  times  she  actually  seemed  to  ride  on  the  foam, 
her  low  decks  were  perpetually  washed  by  the 
heavy  seas  that  dashed  against  her  frail  sides,  and 
she  tossed  and  rolled  in  the  hollows  of  the  waves, 
m  a  manner  that  compelled  even  the  practised  sea 
men  who  trod  her  decks  to  move  with  guarded 
steps.  Still  she  was  trimmed  and  cleared  with  an 


THE    PILOT.  113 

air  of  nautical  neatness  and  attention  that  afforded 
the  utmost  possible  room  for  her  dimensions  ;  and 
though  in  miniature,  she  wore  the  trappings  of  war 
as  proudly  as  if  the  metal  she  bore  was  of  a  more 
fatal  and  dangerous  character.  The  murderous 
gun,  which,  since  the  period  of  which  we  are  writ 
ing,  has  been  universally  adopted  in  all  vessels  of 
inferior  size,  was  then  in  the  infancy  of  its  inven 
tion,  and  was  known  to  the  American  mariner  only 
by  reputation,  under  the  appalling  name  of  a 
"  smasher."  Of  a  vast  caliber,  though  short,  and 
easily  managed,  its  advantages  were  even  in  that 
early  day  beginning  to  be  appreciated,  and  the  larg 
est  ships  were  thought  to  be  unusually  well  pro 
vided  with  the  means  of  offence,  when  they  car 
ried  two  or  three  cannon  of  this  formidable  inven 
tion  among  their  armament.  At  a  later  day  this 
weapon  has  been  improved  and  altered,  until  its 
use  has  become  general  in  vessels  of  a  certain  size, 
taking  its  appellation  from  the  Carron,  on  the  banks 
of  which  river  it  was  first  moulded.  In  place  of 
these  carronades,  six  light  brass  cannon  were  firmly 
lashed  to  the  bulwarks  of  the  Ariel,  their  brazen 
throats  blackened  by  the  sea-water,  which  so  often 
broke  harmlessly  over  these  engines  of  destruction. 
In  the  centre  of  the  vessel,  between  her  two  masts, 
a  gun  of  the  same  metal,  but  of  nearly  twice  the 
length  of  the  others,  was  mounted  on  a  carriage  of 
a  new  and  singular  construction,  which  admitted 
of  its  being  turned  in  any  direction,  so  as  to  be  of 
service  in  most  of  the  emergencies  that  occur  in 
naval  warfare. 

The  eye  of  the  pilot  examined  this  armament 
closely,  and  then  turned  to  the  well-ordered  decks, 
the  neat  and  compact  rigging,  and  the  hardy  faces 
of  the  fine  young  crew,  with  manifest  satisfaction. 
Contrary  to  what  had  been  his  practice  during  the 
10* 


114  THE    PILOT. 

short  time  he  had  been  with  them,  he  uttered  his 
gratification  freely  and  aloud. 

"  You  have  a  tight  boat,  Mr.  Barnstable,"  he 
said,  u  and  a  gallant  looking  crew.  You  promise 
good  service,  sir,  in  time  of  need,  and  that  hour 
may  not  be  far  distant." 

"  The  sooner  the  better,"  returned  the  reckless 
sailor ;  "  I  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  scaling 
my  guns  since  we  quitted  Brest,  though  we  passed 
several  of  the  enemy's  cutters  coming  up  channel, 
with  whom  our  bull-dogs  longed  for  a  conversa 
tion.  Mr.  Griffith  will  tell  you,  pilot,  that  my  lit 
tle  sixes  can  speak,  on  occasion,  with  a  voice  nearly 
as  loud  as  the  frigate's  eighteens." 

"  But  not  to  as  much  purpose,"  observed  Grif 
fith  ;  "  l  vox  et  preterea  nihil,'  as  we  said  at  the 
school." 

"  I  know  nothing  of  your  Greek  or  Latin,  Mr. 
Griffith,"  retorted  the  commander  of  the  Ariel ; 
"  but  if  you  mean  that  those  seven  brass  play 
things  won't  throw  a  round  shot  as  far  as  any  gun 
of  their  size  and  height  above  the  water,  or  won't 
scatter  grape  and  canister  with  any  blunderbuss 
in  your  ship,  you  may  possibly  find  an  opportunity 
that  will  convince  you  to  the  contrary,  before  we 
part  company." 

"  They  promise  well,"  said  the  pilot,  who  was 
evidently  ignorant  of  the  good  understanding  that 
existed  between  the  two  officers,  and  wished  to 
conciliate  all  under  his  directions,  "  and  I  doubt 
not  they  will  argue  the  leading  points  of  a  combat 
with  good  discretion.  I  see  that  you  have  chris 
tened  them — I  suppose  for  their  respective  merits* 
They  are  indeed  expressive  names !" 

"  'Tis  the  freak  of  an  idle  moment,"  said  Barn- 
stable,  laughing,  as  he  glanced  his  eyes  to  the  can 
non,  above  which  were  painted  the  several  quaint 


THE    PILOT.  115 

names  of  "  boxer,"  "  plumper,"  "  grinder,"  u  scat- 
terer,"  "  exterminator,"  and  "  nail-driver." 

"  Why  have  you  thrown  the  midship-gun  with 
out  the  pale  of  your  baptism  ?"  asked  the  pilot ; 
"  or  do  you  know  it  by  the  usual  title  of  the  *  old 
woman  ?' " 

"No,  no,  I  have  no  such  petticoat  terms  on 
board  me,"  cried  the  other ;  "  but  move  more  to 
starboard,  and  you  will  see  its  style  painted  on  the 
cheeks  of  the  carriage  ;  it's  a  name  that  need  not 
cause  them  to  blush  either." 

"  Tis  a  singular  epithet,  though  not  without 
some  meaning !" 

"  It  has  more  than  you,  perhaps,  dream  of,  sir. 
That  worthy  seaman,  whom  you  see  leaning 
against  the  foremast,  and  who  would  serve,  on  oc 
casion,  for  a  spare  spar  himself,  is  the  captain  of 
that  gun,  and  more  than  once  has  decided  some 
warm  disputes  with  John  Bull,  by  the  manner  in 
which  he  has  wielded  it.  No  marine  can  trail 
his  musket  more  easily  than  my  cockswain  can 
train  his  nine-pounder  on  an  object ;  and  thus  from 
their  connexion,  and  some  resemblance  there  is  be 
tween  them  in  length,  it  has  got  the  name  which 
you  perceive  it  carries ;  that  of '  long  Tom.' 

The  pilot  smiled  as  he  listened,  but  turning 
away  from  the  speaker,  the  deep  reflection  that 
crossed  his  brow  but  too  plainly  showed  that  he 
trifled  only  from  momentary  indulgence  ;  and  Grif 
fith  intimated  to  Barnstable,  that  as  the  gale  was 
sensibly  abating,  they  would  pursue  the  object  of 
their  destination. 

Thus  recalled  to  his  duty,  the  commander  of  the 
schooner  forgot  the  delightful  theme  of  expatiating 
on  the  merits  of  his  vessel,  and  issued  the  neces 
sary  orders  to  direct  their  movements.  The  little 
schooner  slowly  obeyed  the  impulse  of  her  helm, 


110  THE    PILOT. 

and  fell  off  before  the  wind,  when  the  folds  of  her 
squaresail,  though  limited  by  a  prudent  reef,  were 
opened  to  the  blasts,  and  she  shot  away  from  her 
consort,  like  a  meteor  dancing  across  the  waves. 
The  black  mass  of  the  frigate's  hull  soon  sunk  in 
distance,  and  long  before  the  sun  had  fallen  below 
the  hills  of  England,  her  tall  masts  were  barely 
distinguishable  by  the  small  cloud  of  sail  that  held 
the  vessel  to  her  station.  As  the  ship  disappear 
ed,  the  land  seemed  to  issue  out  of  the  bosom  of 
the  deep,  and  so  rapid  was  their  progress,  that  the 
dwellings  of  the  gentry,  the  humbler  cottages,  and 
even  the  dim  lines  of  the  hedges,  became  gradual 
ly  more  distinct  to  the  eyes  of  the  bold  mariners, 
until  they  were  beset  with  the  gloom  of  evening, 
when  the  whole  scene  faded  from  their  view  in 
the  darkness  of  the  hour,  leaving  only  the  faint 
outline  of  the  land  visible  in  the  tract  before  them, 
and  the  sullen  billows  of  the  ocean  raging  with  ap 
palling  violence  in  their  rear. 

Still  the  little  Ariel  held  on  her  way,  skimming 
the  ocean  like  a  water-fowl  seeking  its  place  of 
nightly  rest,  and  shooting  in  towards  the  land  as 
fearlessly  as  if  the  dangers  of  the  preceding  night 
were  already  forgotten.  No  shoals  or  rocks  ap 
peared  to  arrest  her  course,  and  we  must  leave 
her  gliding  into  the  dark  streak  that  was  thrown 
from  the  high  and  rocky  cliffs,  that  lined  a  basin  of 
bold  entrance,  where  the  mariners  often  sought 
and  found  a  refuge  from  the  dangers  of  the  Ger 
man  Ocean. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


"  Sirrah !  how  dare  you  leave  your  barley  broth, 
*To  come  in  armour  thus,  against  your  king?" 

Drama. 


THE  large  irregular  building,  inhabited  by  Col 
onel  Howard,  well  deserved  the  description  it  had 
received  from  the  pen  of  Katherine  Plowden. 
Notwithstanding  the  confusion  in  its  orders,  owing 
to  the  different  ages  in  which  its  several  parts  had 
been  erected,  the  interior  was  not  wanting  in  that 
appearance  of  comfort  which  forms  the  great  cha 
racteristic  of  English  domestic  life.  Its  dark  and 
intricate  mazes  of  halls,  galleries,  and  apartments, 
were  all  well  provided  with  good  and  substantial 
furniture,  and  whatever  might  have  been  the  pur 
poses  of  their  original  construction,  they  were  now 
peacefully  appropriated  to  the  service  of  a  quiet  and 
well  ordered  family. 

There  were  divers  portentous  traditions,  of  cru 
el  separations  and  blighted  loves,  which  always 
linger,  like  cobwebs,  around  the  walls  of  old 
houses,  to  be  heard  here  also,  and  which  doubt 
less,  in  abler  hands,  might  easily  have  been 
wrought  up  into  scenes  of  high  interest  and  delec 
table  pathos.  But  our  humbler  efforts  must  be 
limited  by  an  attempt  to  describe  man  as  God  has 
made  him,  vulgar  and  unseemly  as  he  may  appear 


118  THE    PILOT. 

to  sublimated  faculties,  to  the  possessors  of  which 
enviable  qualifications  we  desire  to  say,  at  once, 
that  we  are  determined  to  eschew  all  things  super- 
naturally  refined,  as  we  would  the  devil.  To  all 
those,  then,  who  are  tired  of  the  company  of  their 
species,  we  would  bluntly  insinuate,  that  the  sooner 
they  throw  aside  our  pages,  and  seize  upon  those 
of  some  more  highly  gifted  bard,  the  sooner  will 
they  be  in  the  way  of  quitting  earth,  if  not  of  at 
taining  heaven.  Our  business  is  solely  to  treat  of 
man,  and  this  fair  scene  on  which  he  acts,  and  that 
not  in  his  subtleties  and  metaphysical  contradic 
tions,  but  in  his  palpable  nature,  that  all  may  un 
derstand  our  meaning  as  well  as  ourselves — where 
by  we  manifestly  reject  the  prodigious  advantage 
of  being  thought  a  genius,  by  perhaps  foolishly  re 
fusing  the  mighty  aid  of  incomprehensibility  to  es 
tablish  such  a  character. 

Leaving  the  gloomy  shadows  of  the  cliffs,  under 
which  the  little  Ariel  has  been  seen  to  steer,  and 
the  sullen  roaring  of  the  surf  along  the  margin  of 
the  ocean,  we  shall  endeavour  to  transport  the 
reader  to  the  dining-parlour  of  St.  Ruth's  Abbey, 
taking  the  evening  of  the  same  day  as  the  time  for 
introducing  another  collection  of  those  personages, 
whose  acts  and  characters  it  has  become  our  duty 
to  describe. 

The  room  was  not  of  very  large  dimensions, 
and  every  part  was  glittering  with  the  collected 
light  of  half  a  dozen  candles,  aided  by  the  fierce 
rays  that  glanced  from  the  grate,  which  held  a  most 
cheerful  fire  of  sea-coal.  The  mouldings  of  the 
dark  oak  wainscoting  threw  back  upon  the  mas 
sive  table  of  mahogany,  streaks  of  strong  light, 
which  played  among  the  rich  fluids  that  were 
sparkling  on  the  board,  in  mimic  haloes.  The 
outline  of  this  picture  of  comfort  was  formed  by 


THE    PILOT  119 

damask  curtains  of  a  deep  red,  enormous  oak 
chairs  with  leathern  backs  and  cushioned  .seats,  as 
if  the  apartment  were  hermetically  sealed  against 
the  wrorld  and  its  chilling  cares. 

Around  the  table,  which  still  stood  in  the  centre 
of  the  floor,  were  seated  three  gentlemen,  in  the 
easy  enjoyment  of  their  daily  repast.  The  cloth 
had  been  drawn,  and  the  bottle  was  slowly  passing 
among  them,  as  if  those  who  partook  of  its  bounty 
well  knew  that  neither  the  time  nor  the  opportu 
nity  would  be  wanting  for  their  deliberate  indul 
gence  in  its  pleasures. 

At  one  end  of  the  table  an  elderly  man  was  seat 
ed,  who  performed  whatever  little  acts  of  courtesy 
the  duties  of  a  host  would  appear  to  render  neces 
sary,  in  a  company  where  all  seemed  to  be  equally 
at  their  ease  and  at  home.  This  gentleman  was 
in  the  decline  of  life,  though  his  erect  carriage, 
quick  movements,  and  steady  hand,  equally  de 
noted  that  it  was  an  old  age  free  from  the  usual  in 
firmities.  In  his  dress,  he  belonged  to  that  class 
whose  members  always  follow  the  fashions  of  the 
age  anterior  to  the  one  in  which  they  live,  whe 
ther  from  disinclination  to  sudden  changes  of  any 
kind,  or  from  the  recollections  of  a  period  which, 
with  them,  has  been  hallowed  by  scenes  and  feel 
ings  that  the  chilling  evening  of  life  can  neither  re 
vive  nor  equal.  Age  might  possibly  have  thrown 
its  blighting  frosts  on  his  thin  locks,  but  art  had 
laboured  to  conceal  the  ravages  with  the  nicest 
care.  An  accurate  outline  of  powder  covered  not 
only  the  parts  where  the  hair  actually  remained, 
but  wherever  nature  had  prescribed  that  hair 
should  grow.  His  countenance  was  strongly  mark 
ed  in  features,  if  not  in  expression,  exhibiting,  on 
the  whole,  a  look  of  noble  integrity  and  high  ho 


120  THE    PILOT. 

aour,  which  was  a  good  deal  aided  in  its  effect  by 
the  lofty  receding  forehead,  that  rose  like  a  monu 
ment,  above  the  whole,  to  record  the  character  of 
the  aged  veteran.  A  few  streaks  of  branching  red 
mingled  with  a  swarthiness  of  complexion  that  was 
rendered  more  conspicuous  by  the  outline  of  un 
sullied  white  which  nearly  surrounded  his  promi 
nent  features. 

Opposite  to  the  host,  who  it  will  at  once  be  un 
derstood  was  Colonel  Howard,  was  the  thin, 
yellow  visage  of  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon,  that  bane 
to  the  happiness  of  her  cousin,  already  mentioned 
by  Miss  Plowden. 

Between  these  two  gentlemen  was  a  middle- 
aged,  hard-featured  man,  attired  in  the  livery  of 
King  George,  whose  countenance  emulated  the 
scarlet  of  his  coat,  and  whose  principal  employ 
ment,  at  the  moment,  appeared  to  consist  in  doing 
honour  to  the  cheer  of  his  entertainer. 

Occasionally,  a  servant  entered  or  left  the  room, 
in  silence,  giving  admission,  however,  through  the 
opened  door,  to  the  rushing  sounds  of  the  gale,  as 
the  wind  murmured  amid  the  angles  and  high  chim 
neys  of  the  edifice. 

A  man,  in  the  dress  of  a  rustic,  was  standing 
near  the  chair  of  Colonel  Howard,  between  whom 
and  the  master  of  the  mansion  a  dialogue  had  been 
maintained,  which  closed  as  follows.  The  colonel 
was  the  first  to  speak,  after  the  curtain  is  drawn 
from  between  the  eyes  of  the  reader  and  the  scene. 

"  Said  you,  farmer,  that  the  Scotchman  beheld 
the  vessels  with  his  own  eyes  ?" 

The  answer  was  a  simple  negative. 

"  Well,  well,"  continued  the  colonel,  "  you  can 
withdraw." 

The  man  made  a  rude  attempt  at  a  bow,  which 


THE    PILOT.  121 

being  returned  by  the  old  soldier  with  formal  grace, 
he  left  the  room.  The  host,  turning  to  his  com 
panions,  resumed  the  subject. 

"  If  those  rash  boys  have  really  persuaded  the 
silly  dotard  who  commands  the  frigate,  to  trust 
himself  within  the  shoals,  on  the  eve  of  such  a  gale 
as  this,  their  case  must  have  been  hopeless  in 
deed  !  Thus  may  rebellion  and  disaffection  ever 
meet  with  the  just  indignation  of  Providence  !  It 
would  not  surprise  me,  gentlemen,  to  hear  that  my 
native  land  has  been  engulphed  by  earthquakes,  or 
swallowed  by  the  ocean,  so  awful  and  inexcusable 
has  been  the  weight  of  her  transgressions  !  And 
yet  it  was  a  proud  and  daring  boy  who  held  the 
second  station  in  that  ship  !  I  knew  his  father 
well,  and  a  gallant  gentleman  he  was,  who,  like 
my  own  brother,  the  parent  of  Cecilia,  preferred 
to  serve  his  master  on  the  ocean  rather  than  on 
the  land.  His  son  inherited  the  bravery  of  his 
high  spirit,  without  its  loyalty.  One  would  not 
wish  to  have  such  a  youth  drowned,  either." 

This  speech,  which  partook  much  of  the  nature 
of  a  soliloquy,  especially  towards  its  close,  called 
for  no  immediate  reply ;  but  the  soldier,  having 
held  his  glass  to  the  candle,  to  admire  the  rosy 
hue  of  its  contents,  and  then  sipped  of  the  fluid  so 
often  that  nothing  but  a  clear  light  remained  to 
gaze  at,  quietly  replaced  the  empty  vessel  on  the 
table,  and,  as  he  extended  an  arm  towards  the 
blushing  bottle,  he  spoke,  in  the  careless  tones  of 
one  whose  thoughts  were  dwelling  on  another 
theme — 

"  Ay,  true  enough,  sir ;  good  men  are  scarce, 
and,  as  you  say,  one  cannot  but  mourn  his  fate^ 
though  his  death  be  glorious  ;  quite  a  loss  to  his 
majesty's  service,  I  dare  say,  it  will  prove." 

"  A  loss  to  the  service  of  his  majesty  !"  echoed 
11 


122  THE    PIL01 

the  host — "  his  death  glorious  f  no,  captain  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  the  death  of  no  rebel  can  be  glorious ; 
and  how  he  can  be  a  loss  to  his  majesty's  service, 
I  am  myself  quite  at  a  loss  to  understand." 

The  soldier,  whose  ideas  were  in  that  happy 
state  of  confusion  that  renders  it  difficult  to  com 
mand  the  one  most  needed,  but  who  still,  from 
long  discipline,  had  them  under  a  wonderful  con 
trol  for  the  disorder  of  his  brain,  answered,  with 
great  promptitude — 

"  I  mean  the  loss  of  his  example,  sir.  It  would 
have  been  so  appalling  to  others,  to  have  seen  the 
young  man  executed  instead  of  shot  in  battle." 

"  He  is  drowned,  sir." 

"  Ah  !  that  is  the  next  thing  to  being  hanged ; 
that  circumstance  had  escaped  me." 

"  It  is  by  no  means  certain,  sir,  that  the  ship  and 
schooner  that  the  drover  saw  are  the  vessels  you 
take  them  to  have  been,"  said  Mr.  Dillon,  in  a 
harsh,  drawling  tone  of  voice.  "  I  should  doubt 
their  daring  to  venture  so  openly  on  the  coast,  and 
in  the  direct  track  of  our  vessels  of  war." 

"  These  people  are  our  countrymen,  Christo 
pher,  though  they  are  rebels,"  exclaimed  the  co 
lonel.  "  They  are  a  hardy  and  brave  nation. 
When  I  had  the  honour  to  serve  his  majesty,  some 
twenty  years  since,  it  was  my  fortune  to  face  the 
enemies  of  my  king  in  a  few  small  affairs,  Captain 
Borroughcliffe  ;  such  as  the  siege  of  Quebec,  and 
the  battle  oefore  its  gates,  a  trifling  occasion  at 
Ticonderoga,  and  that  unfortunate  catastrophe  of 
General  Braddock — with  a  few  others.  I  must 
say,  sir,  in  favour  of  the  colonists,  that  they  played 
a  manful  game  on  the  latter  day  ;  and  this  gentle 
man  who  now  heads  the  rebels  sustained  a  gallant 
name  among  us  for  his  conduct  in  that  disastrous 
business.  He  was  a  discreet,  well-behaved  young 


THE    PILOT.  123 

man,  and  quite  a  gentleman.  I  have  never  denied 
that  Mr.  Washington  was  very  much  of  a  gentle 
man." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  soldier,  yawning,  "  he  was  edu 
cated  among  his  majesty's  troops,  and  he  could 
hardly  be  otherwise.  But  I  am  quite  melancholy 
about  this  unfortunate  drowning,  Colonel  Howard. 
Here  will  be  an  end  of  my  vocation,  I  suppose,  and 
I  am  far  from  denying  that  your  hospitality  has 
made  these  quarters  most  agreeable  to  me." 

"  Then,  sir,  the  obligation  is  only  mutual,"  re 
turned  the  host,  with  a  polite  inclination  of  his 
head  :  "  but  gentlemen,  who,  like  ourselves,  have 
been  made  free  of  the  camp,  need  not  bandy  idle 
compliments  about  such  trifles.  If  it  were  my 
kinsman,  Dillon,  now,  whose  thoughts  run  more 
on  Coke  upon  Littleton  than  on  the  gayeties  of  a 
mess-table,  and  a  soldier's  life,  he  might  think  such 
formalities  as  necessary  as  his  hard  words  are  to  a 
deed.  Come,  Borroughcliffe,  my  dear  fellow,  I 
believe?  we  have  given  an  honest  glass  to  each  of 
the  rojral  family,  (God  bless  them  all!)  let  us 
swallow  a  bumper  to  the  memory  of  the  immortal 
Wolfe." 

"  An  honest  proposal,  my  gallant  host,  and  such 
a  one  as  a  soldier  will  never  decline,"  returned 
the  captain,  who  roused  himself  with  the  occasion. 
"  God  bless  them  all,  say  I,  in  echo,  and  if  this 
gracious  queen  of  ours  ends  as  famously  as  she  has 
begun,  'twill  be  such  a  family  of  princes  as  no  other 
army  in  Europe  can  brag  of  around  a  mess-table." 

"  Ay,  ay,  there  is  some  consolation  in  that 
thought,  in  the  midst  of  this  dire  rebellion  of  my 
countrymen.  But  I'll  vex  myself  no  more  with 
the  unpleasant  recollections  ;  the  arms  of  my 
sovereign  will  soon  purge  that  wicked  land  of  the 
foul  stain." 


124  THE    PILOT. 

"  Of  that  there  can  be  no  doubt,"  said  Borrough- 
cliffe,  whose  thoughts  still  continued  a  little  ob 
scured  by  the  sparkling  Madeira  that  had  long  lain 
ripening  under  a  Carolinian  sun  ;  "  these  Yankees 
fly  before  his  majesty's  regulars,  like  so  many 
dirty  clowns  in  a  London  mob  before  a  charge  of 
the  horse-guards." 

"  Pardon  me,  Captain  Borroughclifle,"  said  his 
host,  elevating  his  person  to  more  than  its  usually 
erect  attitude  ;  "  they  may  be  misguided,  deluded, 
and  betrayed,  but  the  comparison  is  unjust.  Give 
them  arms  and  give  them  discipline,  and  he  who 
gets  an  inch  of  their  land  from  them,  plentiful  as 
it  is,  will  find  a  bloody  day  on  which  to  take  pos 
session." 

"  The  veriest  coward  in  Christendom  would  fight 
in  a  country  where  wine  brews  itself  into  such  a 
cordial  as  this,"  returned  the  cool  soldier ;  "  I  am 
a  living  proof  that  you  mistook  my  meaning  ;  for 
had  not  those  loose-flapped  gentlemen  they  cal» 
Vermontese  and  Hampshire-granters  (God  grant 
them  his  blessing  for  the  deed  ! )  finished  two 
thirds  of  my  company,  I  should  not  have  been  at 
this  day  under  your  roof,  a  recruiting  instead  of  a 
marching  officer ;  neither  should  I  have  been  bound 
up  in  a  covenant,  like  the  law  of  Moses,  could  Bur- 
goyne  have  made  head  against  their  long-legged 
marchings  and  counter-marchings.  Sir,  I  drink 
their  healths,  with  all  my  heart ;  and,  with  such  a 
bottle  of  golden  sunshine  before  me,  rather  than 
displease  so  good  a  friend,  I  will  go  through  Gates's 
whole  army,  regiment  by  regiment,  company  by 
company,  or,  if  you  insist  on  the  same,  even  man 
by  man,  in  a  bumper." 

"  On  no  account  would  I  tax  your  politeness  so 
far,"  returned  the  colonel,  abundantly  mollified  by 
this  ample  concession ;  "  I  stand  too  much  you- 


THE    PILOT.  125 

debtor,  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  for  so  freely  volun 
teering  to  defend  my  house  against  the  attacks  of 
my  piratical,  rebellious,  and  misguided  couc  try- 
men,  to  think  of  requiring  such  a  concession." 

"  Harder  duty  might  be  performed,  and  no  fa 
vours  asked,  my  respectable  host,"  returned  the 
soldier.  "  Country  quarters  are  apt  to  be  dull,  and 
the  liquor  is  commonly  execrable ;  but  in  such  a 
dwelling  as  this  a  man  can  rock  himself  in  the  very 
cradle  of  contentment.  And  yet  there  is  one 
subject  of  complaint,  that  I  should  disgrace  my  re 
giment  did  I  not  speak  of,  for  it  is  incumbent  on 
me,  both  as  a  man  and  a  soldier,  to  be  no  longer 
silent." 

"  Name  it,  sir,  freely,  and  its  cause  shall  be  as 
freely  redressed,"  said  the  host,  in  some  amaze 
ment. 

"  Here  we  three  sit,  from  morning  to  night,'1 
continued  the  soldier,  "  bachelors  all,  well  provi 
sioned  and  better  liquored,  I  grant  you,  but  like 
so  many  well  fed  anchorites,  while  two  of  the 
loveliest  damsels  in  the  island  pine  in  solitude 
within  a  hundred  feet  of  us,  without  tasting  the 
homage  of  our  sighs.  This,  I  will  maintain,  is  a 
reproach  both  to  your  character,  Colonel  Howard, 
as  an  old  soldier,  and  to  mine  as  a  young  one.  As 
to  our  friend  Coke  on  top  of  Littleton  here,  I 
leave  him  to  the  quiddities  of  the  law  to  plead  his 
own  cause." 

The  brow  of  the  host  contracted  for  a  moment, 
and  the  sallow  cheek  of  Dillon,  who  had  sat  dur 
ing  the  dialogue  in  a  sullen  silence,  appeared  to 
grow  even  livid  ;  but  gradually  the  open  brow  of 
the  veteran  resumed  its  frank  expression,  and  the 
lips  of  the  other  relaxed  into  a  Jesuitical  sort  of  a 
smile,  that  was  totally  disregarded  by  the  captain, 
who  amused  himself  with  sipping  his  wine  while 
11* 


THE    PILOT. 

he  waited  for  an  answer,  as  if  he  analyzed  each 
drop  that  crossed  his  palate. 

After  an  embarrassing  pause  of  a  moment,  Co« 
lonel  Howard  broke  the  silence. 

"  There  is  reason  in  Borroughcliffe's  hint,  foi 
such  I  take  it  to  be — " 

"  I  meant  it  for  a  plain,  matter-of-fact  com« 
plaint,"  interrupted  the  soldier. 

"  And  you  have  cause  for  it,"  continued  tha 
colonel.  "  It  is  unreasonable,  Christopher,  that 
the  ladies  should  allow  their  dread  of  these  pirati  • 
cal  countrymen  of  ours  to  exclude  us  from  their 
society,  though  prudence  may  require  that  they 
remain  secluded  in  their  apartments.  We  ow6 
the  respect  to  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  that  at  least 
we  admit  him  to  the  sight  of  the  coffee-urn  in  an 
evening." 

"  That  is  precisely  my  meaning,"  said  the  cap 
tain  ;  "  as  for  dining  with  them,  why,  I  am  well 
provided  for  here,  but  there  is  no  one  knows  ho\* 
to  set  hot  water  a  hissing  in  so  professional  a  man* 
ner  as  a  woman.  So  forward,  my  dear  and  ho« 
noured  colonel,  and  lay  your  injunctions  on  them, 
that  they  command  your  humble  servant  and 
Mr.  Coke  unto  Littleton  to  advance  and  give  th« 
countersign  of  gallantry." 

Dillon  contracted  his  disagreeable  features  intj 
something  that  was  intended  for  a  satirical  smile, 
before  he  spoke  as  follows  : 

"  Both  the  veteran  Colonel  Howard  and  th« 
gallant  Captain  Borroughcliffe  may  find  it  easiei 
to  overcome  the  enemies  of  his  majesty  in  the  field 
than  to  shake  a  woman's  caprice.  Not  a  day  has 
passed,  these  three  weeks,  that  I  have  not  sent 
my  inquiries  to  the  door  of  Miss  Howard,  as  be 
came  her  father's  kinsman,  with  a  wish  to  appease 
her  apprehensions  of  the  pirates  ;  but  little  has 


THE     PILOT.  127 

deigned  me  in  reply,  more  than  such  thanks  as  her 
sex  and  hreeding  could  not  well  dispense  with." 

"  Well,  you  have  been  as  fortunate  as  myself, 
and  why  you  should  be  more  so,  I  see  no  reason," 
cried  the  soldier,  throwing  a  glance  of  cool  con 
tempt  at  the  other  ;  "  fear  whitens  the  cheek,  and 
ladies  best  love  to  be  seen  when  the  roses  flourish 
rather  than  the  lilies." 

"  A  woman  is  never  so  interesting,  Captain 
Borroughcliife,"  said  the  gallant  host,  "  as  when 
she  appears  to  lean  on  man  for  support ;  and  he 
who  does  not  feel  himself  honoured  by  the  trust, 
is  a  disgrace  to  his  species." 

"  Bravo  !  my  honoured  sir,  a  worthy  sentiment, 
and  spoken  like  a  true  soldier ;  but  I  have  heard 
much  of  the  loveliness  of  the  ladies  of  the  Abbey 
since  I  have  been  in  my  present  quarters,  and  I 
feel  a  strong  desire  to  witness  beauty  encircled  by 
such  loyalty  as  could  induce  them  to  flee  their  na 
tive  country,  rather  than  to  devote  their  charms  to 
the  rude  keeping  of  the  rebels." 

The  colonel  looked  grave,  and  for  a  momei.it 
fierce  ;  but  the  expression  of  his  displeasure  soon 
passed  away  in  a  smile  of  forced  gayety,  and,  &j 
he  cheerfully  rose  from  his  seat,  he  cried — 

"  You  shall  be  admitted  this  very  night,  and  this 
instant,  Captain  Borroughclifle.  We  owe  it,  sir, 
to  your  services  here,  as  well  as  in  the  field,  and 
those  froward  girls  shall  be  humoured  no  longer. 
Nay,  it  is  nearly  two  weeks  since  I  have  seen  my 
ward  myself,  nor  have  I  laid  my  eyes  on  my  niece 
but  twice  in  all  that  time.  Christopher,  I  leave 
the  captain  under  your  good  care,  while  I  go  seek 
admission  into  the  cloisters  ;  we  call  that  part  of 
the  building  the  cloisters,  because  it  holds  our  nuns, 
sir  !  You  will  pardon  my  early  absence  from  the 
table,  Captain  Borroughcliffe." 


128  THE    PILOT. 

"  I  beg  it  may  not  be  mentioned  ;  you  leave  an 
excellent  representative  behind  you,  sir,"  cried 
the  soldier,  taking  in  the  lank  figure  of  Mr.  Dil 
lon  in  a  sweeping  glance,  that  terminated  with  a 
settled  gaze  on  his  decanter.  "  Make  my  devoirs 
to  the  recluses,  my  dear  colonel,  and  say  all  that 
your  own  excellent  wit  shall  suggest  as  an  apology 
for  my  impatience.  Mr.  Dillon,  I  meet  you  in  a 
bumper  to  their  healths  and  in  their  honour." 

The  challenge  was  coldly  accepted,  and  while 
these  gentlemen  still  held  their  glasses  to  their 
lips,  Colonel  Howard  left  the  apartment,  bowing 
low,  and  uttering  a  thousand  excuses  to  his  guest, 
as  he  proceeded,  and  even  offering  a  very  unne 
cessary  apology  of  the  same  effect  to  his  habitual 
inmate,  Mr.  Dillon. 

"  Is  fear  so  very  powerful  within  these  old 
walls  ?"  said  the  soldier,  when  the  door  closed  be 
hind  their  host,  "  that  your  ladies  deem  it  neces 
sary  to  conceal  themselves  before  even  an  enemy 
is  known  to  have  landed  ?" 

Dillon  coldly  replied — 

"  The  name  of  Paul  Jones  is  terrific  to  all  on 
this  coast,  I  believe,  nor  are  the  ladies  of  St.  Ruth 
singular  in  their  apprehensions." 

"  Ah  !  the  pirate  has  bought  himself  a  desperate 
name,  since  the  affair  of  Flamborough  Head.  But 
let  him  look  to't,  if  he  trusts  himself  in  ano 
ther  Whitehaven  expedition,  while  there  is  a  de 
tachment  of  the  th  in  the  neighbourhood, 

though  the  men  should  be  nothing  better  than  re 
emits." 

"  Our  last  accounts  leave  him  safe  in  the  court 
of  Louis,"  returned  his  companion ;  "  but  there 
are  men  as  desperate  as  himself,  who  sail  the  ocean 
under  the  rebel  flag,  and  from  one  or  two  of  them  we 
have  had  much  reason  to  apprehend  the  vengeance 


THE    PILOT.  129 

of  disappointed  men.  It  is  they  that  we  hope  are 
lost  in  this  gale." 

"  Hum  !  I  hope  they  were  dastards,  or  your 
hopes  are  a  little  unchristian,  and — " 

He  would  have  proceeded,  but  the  door  opened, 
and  his  orderly  entered,  and  announced,  that  a 
sentinel  had  detained  three  men,  who  were  pass 
ing  along  the  highway,  near  the  abbey,  and  who, 
by  their  dress,  appeared  to  be  seamen. 

"  Well,  let  them  pass,"  cried  the  captain ; 
u  what,  have  we  nothing  to  do  better  than  to  stop 
passengers,  like  footpads,  on  the  king's  highway  ! 
give  them  of  your  canteens,  and  let  the  rascals 
pass.  Your  orders  were  to  give  the  alarm,  if  any 
hostile  party  landed  on  the  coast,  not  to  detain 
peaceable  subjects  on  their  lawful  business." 

"  I  beg  your  honour's  pardon,"  returned  the 
sergeant ;  "  but  these  men  seemed  lurking  about 
the  grounds  for  no  good,  and  as  they  kept  care 
fully  aloof  from  the  place  where  our  sentinel  was 
posted,  until  to-night,  Downing  thought  it  looked 
suspiciously,  and  detained  them." 

"  Downing  is  a  fool,  and  it  may  go  hard  with 
him  for  his  officiousness.  What  have  you  done 
with  the  men  ?" 

"  I  took  them  to  the  guard-room  in  the  east 
wing,  your  honour." 

u  Then  feed  them  ;  and  harkye,  sirrah  !  liquor 
them  well,  that  we  hear  no  complaints,  and  let 
them  go." 

"  Yes,  sir,  yes,  your  honour  shall  be  obeyed ; 
but  there  is  a  straight,  soldierly  looking  fellow 
among  them,  that  I  think  might  be  persuaded  to 
enlist,  if  he  were  detained  till  morning.  I  doubt, 
sir,  by  his  walk,  but  he  has  served  already." 

"  Ha  !  what  say  you  !"  cried  the  captain,  prick 


130  THE    PILOT. 

ing  up  his  ears,  like  a  hound  who  hears  a  well 
known  cry,  "  served,  think  ye,  already  ?" 

"  There  are  signs  about  him,  your  honour,  to 
that  effect.  An  old  soldier  is  seldom  deceived  in 
such  a  thing,  and  considering  his  disguise,  for  it 
can  be  no  other,  and  the  place  where  we  took  him, 
there  is  no  danger  of  a  have-us  corpses,  until  he 
is  tied  to  us  by  the  laws  of  the  kingdom." 

"  Peace,  you  knave  !"  said  Borroughcliffe,  ris 
ing,  and  making  a  devious  route  towards  the  door ; 
"  you  speak  in  the  presence  of  my  lord  chief  jus 
tice  that  is  to  be,  and  should  not  talk  lightly  of  the 
laws.  But  still  you  say  reason;  give  me  your 
arm,  sergeant,  and  lead  the  way  to  the  east  wing ; 
my  eyesight  is  good  for  nothing  in  such  a  dark 
night.  A  soldier  should  always  visit  his  guard  be 
fore  the  tattoo  beats." 

After  emulating  the  courtesy  of  their  host,  Cap 
tain  Borroughcliffe  retired  on  this  patriotic  errand, 
leaning  on  his  subordinate  in  a  style  of  most  fami 
liar  condescension.  Dillon  continued  at  the  table, 
endeavouring  to  express  the  rancorous  feelings  of 
his  breast  by  a  satirical  smile  of  contempt,  that  was 
necessarily  lost  on  all  but  himself,  as  a  large  mirror 
threw  back  the  image  of  his  morose  and  unpleasant 
features. 

But  we  must  precede  the  veteran  colonel  in  his 
visit  to  the  "  cloisters." 


CHAPTER  X. 


«  -  And  kindness  like  their  own 
B  inspired  those  eyes,  affectionate  and  glad, 
"  That  seemed  to  love  whatever  they  looked  upon  , 
*  Whether  with  Hebe's  mirth  her  features  shone, 
u  Or  if  a  shade  more  pleasing  them  o'ercast  — 
"  Yet  so  becomingly  th1  expression  past, 
to  That  each  succeeding  look  was  lovelier  than  the  la«t.M 

Gertrude  of  Wyoming 


THE  western  wing  of  St.  Ruth  house,  or  abbey, 
as  the  building  was  indiscriminately  called,  retain- 
ed  but  few  vestiges  of  the  uses  to  which  it  had 
been  originally  devoted.  The  upper  apartments 
were  small  and  numerous,  extending  on  either 
side  of  a  long,  low,  and  dark  gallery,  and  might 
have  been  the  dormitories  of  the  sisterhood  who 
were  said  to  have  once  inhabited  that  portion  of 
the  edifice  ;  but  the  ground-floor  had  been  modern 
ized,  as  it  was  then  called,  about  a  century  before, 
and  retained  just  enough  of  its  ancient  character  to 
blend  the  venerable  with  what  was  thought  com 
fortable  in  the  commencement  of  the  reign  of  the 
third  George.  As  this  wing  had  been  appropriated 
to  the  mistress  of  the  mansion,  ever  since  the  build. 
ing  had  changed  its  spiritual  character  for  one  of  a 
more  carnal  nature,  Colonel  Howard  continued  the 
arrangement,  when  he  became  the  temporary  pos 
sessor  of  St.  Ruth,  until,  in  the  course  of  events, 
the  apartments  which  had  been  appropriated  for 
the  accommodation  and  convenience  of  his  niece, 


132  THE    PILOT. 

were  eventually  converted  into  her  prison.  But 
as  the  severity  of  the  old  veteran  was  as  often 
marked  by  an  exhibition  of  his  virtues  as  of  his 
foibles,  the  confinement  and  his  displeasure  consti 
tuted  the  sole  subjects  of  complaint  that  were 
given  to  the  young  lady.  That  our  readers  may 
be  better  qualified  to  judge  of  the  nature  of  their 
imprisonment,  we  shall  transport  them^  without 
further  circumlocution,  into  the  presence  of  the 
two  females,  whom  they  must  be  already  prepared 
to  receive. 

The  withdrawing-room  of  St.  Ruth's  was  an 
apartment  which,  tradition  said,  had  formerly  been 
the  refectory  of  the  little  bevy  of  fair  sinners  who 
sought  a  refuge  within  its  walls  from  the  tempta 
tions  of  the  world.  Their  number  was  not  large v 
nor  their  entertainments  very  splendid,  or  this 
limited  space  could  not  have  contained  them.  The 
room,  however,  was  of  fair  dimensions,  and  an  air 
of  peculiar  comfort,  mingled  with  chastened  luxu 
ry,  was  thrown  around  it,  by  the  voluminous  folds 
of  the  blue  damask  curtains  that  nearly  concealed 
the  sides  where  the  deep  windows  were  placed, 
and  by  the  dark  leathern  hangings,  richly  stamped 
svith  cunning  devices  in  gold,  that  ornamented  the 
two  others.  Massive  couches  in  carved  mahoga 
ny,  with  chairs  of  a  similar  material  and  fashion, 
all  covered  by  the  same  rich  fabric  that  composed, 
the  curtains,  together  with  a  Turkey  carpet  over, 
the  shaggy  surface  of  which  all  the  colours  of  the 
rainbow  were  scattered  in  bright  confusion,  united 
to  relieve  the  gloomy  splendour  of  the  enormous 
mantle,  deep,  heavy  cornices,  and  the  complicated 
carvings  of  the  massive  wood-work  which  cum 
bered  the  walls.  A  brisk  fire  of  wood  was  burn 
ing  on  the  hearth,  in  compliment  to  the  wilful 
prejudice  of  Miss  Plowden,  who  had  maintained,  • 


THE    PILOT.  133 

in  her  most  vivacious  manner,  that  seacoal  was 
"  only  tolerable  for  blacksmiths  and  Englishmen." 
In  addition  to  the  cheerful  blaze  from  the  hearth, 
two  waxen  lights,  in  candlesticks  of  massive  silver, 
were  lending  their  aid  to  enliven  the  apartment. 
One  of  these  was  casting  its  rays  brightly  along 
the  confused  colours  of  the  carpet  on  which  it 
stood,  flickering  before  the  active  movements  of 
the  form  that  played  around  it  with  light  and  ani 
mated  inflexions.  The  posture  of  this  young  lady 
was  infantile  in  grace,  and,  with  one  ignorant  of 
her  motives,  her  employment  would  have  been 
obnoxious  to  the  same  construction.  Divers  small, 
square  pieces  of  silk,  strongly  contrasted  to  each 
other  in  "colour,  lay  on  every  side  of  her,  and 
were  changed,  as  she  kneeled  on  the  floor,  by  her 
nimble  hands,  into  as  many  different  combinations 
as  if  she  were  humouring  the  fancies  of  her  sex, 
or  consulting  the  shades  of  her  own  dark  but  rich 
complexion  in  the  shop  of  a  mercer.  The  close 
satin  dress  of  this  young  female  served  to  display 
her  small  figure  in  its  true  proportions,  while 
her  dancing  eyes  of  jet-black  shamed  the  dies  of 
the  Italian  manufacturer  by  their  superior  radi 
ancy.  A  few  ribands  of  pink,  disposed  about  her 
person  writh  an  air  partly  studied,  and  yet  careless 
ly  coquettish,  seemed  rather  to  reflect  than  lend 
the  rich  bloom  that  mantled  around  her  laughing 
countenance,  leaving  to  the  eye  no  cause  to  regret 
that  she  was  not  fairer. 

Another  female  figure,  clad  in  virgin  white,  was 
reclining  on  the  end  of  a  distant  couch.  The  se 
clusion  in  which  they  lived  might  have  rendered 
this  female  a  little  careless  of  her  appearance,  or, 
what  was  more  probable,  the  comb  had  been  found 
unequal  to  its  burthen,  for  her  tresses,  which  ri- 

VI 


134  THE    PILOT. 

vailed  the  hue  and  gloss  of  the  raven,  had  burst 
from  their  confinement,  and,  dropping  over  her 
shoulders,  fell  along  her  dress  in  rich  profusion, 
finally  resting  on  the  damask  of  the  couch,  in  dark 
folds,  like  glittering  silk.  A  small  hand,  which 
seemed  to  blush  at  its  own  naked  beauties,  sup 
ported  her  head,  imbedded  in  the  volumes  of  her 
hair,  like  the  fairest  alabaster  set  in  the  deepest 
ebony.  Beneath  the  dark  profusion  of  her  curls, 
which,  notwithstanding  the  sweeping  train  that  fell 
about  her  person,  covered  the  summit  of  her  head, 
lay  a  low,  spotless  forehead  of  dazzling  whiteness, 
that  was  relieved  by  two  arches  so  slightly  and 
truly  drawn  that  they  appeared  to  have  been  pro 
duced  by  the  nicest  touches  of  art.  The  fallen  lids 
and  long  silken  lashes  concealed  the  eyes,  that 
rested  on  the  floor,  as  if  their  mistress  mused  in 
melancholy.  The  remainder  of  the  features  of 
this  maiden  were  of  a  kind  that  is  most  difficult  to 
describe,  being  neither  regular  nor  perfect  in  their 
several  parts,  yet  harmonizing  and  composing  a 
whole,  that  formed  an  exquisite  picture  of  female 
delicacy  and  loveliness.  There  might  or  there 
might  not  have  been  a  tinge  of  slight  red  in  her 
cheeks,  but  it  varied  with  each  emotion  of  her  bo 
som,  even  as  she  mused  in  quiet,  now  seeming  to 
steal  insidiously  over  her  glowing  temples,  and 
then  leaving  on  her  face  an  almost  startling  pale 
ness.  Her  stature,  as  she  reclined,  seemed  above 
the  medium  height  of  womanhood,  and  her  figure 
was  rather  delicate  than  full,  though  the  little  foot 
that  rested  on  the  damask  cushion  before  her,  dis 
played  a  rounded  outline  that  any  of  her  sex  might 
envy. 

"  Oh  !  I'm  as  expert  as  if  I  were  signal  officer 
to  the  Lord  high  admiral  of  this  realm !"  exclaim- 


THE    PILOT.  135 

ed  the  laughing  female  on  the  floor,  clapping  hei 
hands  together  in  girlish  exultation.  a  I  do  long 
Cecilia,  for  an  opportunity  to  exhibit  my  skill." 

While  her  cousin  was  speaking,  Miss  Howard 
raised  her  head,  with  a  faint  smile,  and  as  she  turn 
ed  her  eyes  towards  the  other,  a  spectator  might 
have  been  disappointed,  but  could  not  have  been 
displeased,  by  the  unexpected  change  the  action 
produced  in  the  expression  of  her  countenance. 
Instead  of  the  piercing  black  eyes  that  the  deep 
colour  of  her  tresses  would  lead  him  to  expect,  he 
would  have  beheld  two  large,  mild,  blue  orbs,  that 
seemed  to  float  in  a  liquid  so  pure  as  to  be  nearly 
invisible,  and  which  were  more  remarkable  for 
their  tenderness  and  persuasion,  than  for  the  vivid 
flashes  that  darted  from  the  quick  glances  of  her 
companion. 

"  The  success  of  your  mad  excursion  to  the  sea 
side,  my  cousin,  has  bewildered  your  brain,"  re 
turned  Cecilia ;  "  but  I  know  not  how  to  conquer 
your  disease,  unless  we  prescribe  salt-water  for 
the  remedy,  as  in  some  other  cases  of  madness." 

"  Ah  !  I  am  afraid  your  nostrum  would  be  use 
less,"  cried  Katherine  ;  cc  it  has  failed  to  wash  out 
the  disorder  from  the  sedate  Mr.  Richard  Barn- 
stable,  who  has  had  the  regimen  administered  to 
him  through  many  a  hard  gale,  but  who  continues 
as  fair  a  candidate  for  bedlam  as  ever.  Would 
you  think  it,  Cicely,  the  crazy-one  urged  me,  in 
the  ten  minutes'  conversation  we  held  together  on 
the  cliffs,  to  accept  of  his  schooner  as  a  shower 
bath!" 

"  I  can  think  that  yt>ur  hardihood  might  encou 
rage  him  to  expect  much,  but  surely  he  could  not 
have  been  serious  in  such  a  proposal !" 

"  Oh  !  to  do  the  wretch  justice,  he  did  say 
something  of  a  chaplain  to  consecrate  the  mea- 


136  THE    PILOT. 

sure,  but  there  was  boundless  impudence  in  the 
thought.  I  have  not,  nor  shall  I  forget  it,  or  for 
give  him  for  it,  these  six-and- twenty  years.  What 
a  fine  time  he  must  have  had  of  it,  in  his  little 
Ariel,  among  the  monstrous  waves  we  saw  tum 
bling  in  upon  the  shore  to-day,  coz  !  I  hope  they 
wul  wash  his  impudence  out  of  him  !  I  do  think 
the  man  cannot  have  had  a  dry  thread  about  him, 
from  sun  to  sun.  I  must  believe  it  is  a  punishment 
for  his  boldness,  and,  be  certain,  I  shall  tell  him  of 
it.  I  will  form  half  a  dozen  signals,  this  instant, 
to  joke  at  his  moist  condition,  in  very  revenge." 

Pleased  with  her  own  thoughts,  and  buoyant 
with  the  secret  hope  that  her  adventurous  under 
taking  would  be  finally  crowned  with  complete 
success,  the  gay  girl  shook  her  black  locks,  in  in 
finite  mirth,  and  tossed  the  mimic  flags  gayly 
around  her  person,  as  she  was  busied  in  forming 
new  combinations,  in  order  to  amuse  herself  with 
her  lover's  disastrous  situation.  But  the  features 
of  her  cousin  clouded  with  the  thoughts  that  were 
excited  by  her  remarks,  and  she  replied,  in  a  tone 
that  bore  some  little  of  the  accents  of  reproach — 

"  Katherine  !  Katherine  !  can  you  jest  when 
there  is  so  much  to  apprehend  !  Forget  you  what 
Alice  Dunscombe  told  us  of  the  gale,  this  morning  ! 
and  that  she  spoke  of  two  vessels,  a  ship  and  a 
schooner,  that  had  been  seen  venturing  with  fear 
ful  temerity  within  the  shoals,  only  six  miles  from 
the  Abbey,  and  that  unless  God  in  his  gracious 
providence  had  been  kind  to  them,  there  was  but 
little  doubt  that  their  fate  would  be  a  sad  one  ! 
Can  you,  that  know  so  well  who  and  what  these 
daring  mariners  are,  be  merry  about  the  selfsame 
winds  that  cause  their  danger  ?" 

The  thoughtless,  laughing  girl  was  recalled  to 
her  recollection  by  this  remonstrance,  and  every 


THE    PILOT.  137 

trace  of  mirth  vanished  from  her  countenance, 
leaving  a  momentary  death-like  paleness  crossing 
her  face,  as  she  clasped  her  hands  before  her,  and 
fastened  her  keen  eyes  vacantly  on  the  splendid 
pieces  of  silk  that  now  lay  unheeded  around  her. 
At  this  critical  moment  the  door  of  the  room  slow 
ly  opened,  and  Colonel  Howard  entered  the  apart 
ment  with  an  air  that  displayed  a  droll  mixture  of 
stern  indignation,  with  a  chivalric  and  habitual  re 
spect  to  the  sex. 

"  I  solicit  your  pardon,  young  ladies,  for  the  in 
terruption,"  he  said ;  "  I  trust,  however,  that  an 
old  man's  presence  can  never  be  entirely  unex 
pected  in  the  drawing-room  of  his  wards." 

As  he  bowed,  the  colonel  seated  himself  on  the 
end  of  the  couch,  opposite  to  the  place  where  his 
niece  had  been  reclining,  for  Miss  Howard  had 
risen  at  his  entrance,  and  continued  standing  until 
her  uncle  had  comfortably  disposed  of  himself. 
Throwing  a  glance,  which  was  not  entirely  free 
from  self-commendation  around  the  comfortable 
apartment,  the  veteran  proceeded,  in  the  same  tone 
as  before — 

"  You  are  not  without  the  means  of  making  any 
guest  welcome,  nor  do  I  see  the  necessity  of  such 
constant  seclusion  from  the  eyes  of  the  world  as 
you  thus  rigidly  practise." 

Cecilia  looked  timidly  at  her  uncle,  with  sur 
prise,  before  she  returned  an  answer  to  his  re 
mark. 

"  We  certainly  owe  much  to  your  kind  atten 
tion,  dear  sir,"  she  at  length  uttered  ;  "  but  is  our 
retirement  altogether  voluntary  ?" 

"  How  can  it  be  otherwise  !  are  you  not  mis 
tress  of -this  mansion,  madam !  In  selecting  the 
residence  where  your  and,  permit  me  to  add,  my 
ancestors,  so  long  dwelt,  in  credit  and  honour,  I 
12* 


138  THE    PILOT. 

have  surely  been  less  governed  by  any  natural 
pride  that  I  might  well  have  entertained  on  such  a 
subject,  than  by  a  desire  to  consult  your  comfort 
and  happiness.  Every  thing  appears  to  my  aged 
eyes  as  if  we  ought  not  to  be  ashamed  to  receive 
•ur  friends  within  these  walls.  The  cloisters  of 
St.  Ruth,  Miss  Howard,  are  not  entirely  bare, 
neither  are  their  tenants  wholly  unworthy  to  be 
seen." 

"  Open,  then,  the  portals  of  the  Abbey,  sir,  and 
your  niece  will  endeavour  to  do  proper  credit  to 
the  hospitality  of  its  master." 

"  That  was  spoken  like  Harry  Howard's  daugh 
ter,  frankly  and  generously  !"  cried  the  old  sol 
dier,  insensibly  edging  himself  nearer  to  his  niece. 
"  If  my  brother  had  devoted  himself  to  the  camp, 
instead  of  the  sea,  Cecilia,  he  would  have  made 
one  of  the  bravest  and  ablest  generals  in  his  ma 
jesty's  service — poor  Harry  !  he  might  have  been 
living  at  this  very  day,  and  at  this  moment  leading 
the  victorious  troops  of  his  sovereign  through  the 
revolted  colonies  in  triumph.  But  he  is  gone, 
Cicely,  and  has  left  you  behind  him,  as  his  deai 
representative,  to  perpetuate  our  family,  and  to 
possess  what  little  has  been  left  to  us  from  the  ra 
vages  of  the  times." 

"  Surely,  dear  sir,"  said  Cecilia,  taking  his 
hand,  which  had  unconsciously  approached  her 
person,  and  pressing  it  to  her  lips,  "  we  have  no 
cause  to  complain  of  our  lot  in  respect  to  fortune, 
though  it  may  cause  us  bitter  regret  that  so  few  of 
us  are  left  to  enjoy  it." 

"  No,  no,  no,"  said  Katherine,  in  a  low,  hurried 
voice  ;  "  Alice  Dunscombe  is  and  must  be  wrong ; 
providence  would  never  abandon  brave  men  to  so 
cruel  a  fate  !" 

"  Alice  Dunscombe  is  here  to  atone  for  her  er 


THE    PILOT.  139 

ror,  if  she  has  fallen  into  one,"  said  a  quiet,  sub 
dued  voice,  in  which  the  accents  of  a  provincial 
dialect,  however,  were  slightly  perceptible,  ana 
which,  in  its  low  tones,  wanted  that  silvery  clear 
ness  that  gave  so  much  feminine  sweetness  to  the 
words  of  Miss  Howard,  and  which  even  rung  me 
lodiously  in  the  ordinarily  vivacious  strains  of  hei 
cousin. 

The  surprise  created  by  these  sudden  interrup 
tions  caused  a  total  suspension  of  the  discourse. 
Katherme  Plowden,  who  had  continued  kneeling 
in  the  attitude  before  described,  arose,  and  as  she 
looked  about  her  in  momentary  confusion,  the 
blood  again  mantled  her  face  with  the  fresh  and 
joyous  springs  of  life.  The  other  speaker  advancer1 
steadily  into  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  after  re 
turning,  with  studied  civility,  the  low  bow  of  Co 
lonel  Howard,  seated  herself  in  silence  on  the  op 
posite  couch.  The  manner  of  her  entrance,  her 
reception,  and  her  attire,  sufficiently  denoted  that 
the  presence  of  this  female  was  neither  unusual  nor 
unwelcome.  She  was  dressed  with  marked  sim 
plicity,  though  with  a  studied  neatness,  that  more 
than  compensated  for  the  absence  of  ornaments. 
Her  age  might  not  have  much  exceeded  thirty,  but 
there  was  an  adoption  of  customs  in  her  attire  that 
indicated  she  was  not  unwilling  to  be  thought  old 
er.  Her  fair  flaxen  hair  was  closely  confined  by 
a  dark  bandeau,  such  as  was  worn  in  a  nation  far 
ther  north  by  virgins  only,  over  which  a  few^  curls 
strayed,  in  a  manner  that  showed  the  will  of  their 
mistress  alone  restrained  their  luxuriance.  Her 
light  complexion  had  lost  much  of  its  brilliancy,  but 
enough  still  remained  to  assert  its  original  beauty 
and  clearness.  To  this  description  might  be  add 
ed,  fine,  mellow  blue  eyes,  beautifully  white, 
though  large  teeth,  a  regular  set  of  features,  and 


140  THE    PILOT. 

a  person  that  was  clad  in  a  dark  lead-coloured  silk, 
which  fitted  her  full,  but  gracefully  moulded  form, 
with  the  closest  exactness. 

Colonel  Howard  paused  a  moment,  after  this 
lady  was  seated,  and  then  turning  himself  to  Ka- 
therine  with  an  air  that  became  stiff  and  con 
strained  by  attempting  to  seem  extremely  easy,  he 
said — 

"  You  no  sooner  summon  Miss  Alice,  but  she 
appears,  Miss  Plowden — ready  and  (I  am  bold  to 
say,  Miss  Alice )  able  to  defend  herself  against  all 
charges  that  her  worst  enemies  can  allege  against 
her." 

"  I  have  no  charges  to  make  against  Miss  Duns- 
combe,"  said  Katherine,  pettishly,  "  nor  do  I  wish 
to  have  dissensions  created  between  me  and  my 
friends,  even  by  Colonel  Howard." 

"  Colonel  Howard  will  studiously  avoid  such 
offences  in  future,"  said  the  veteran,  bowing  ;  and 
turning  stiffly  to  the  others,  he  continued — "  I  was 
just  conversing  with  my  niece,  as  you  entered, 
Miss  Alice,  on  the  subject  of  her  immuring  herself 
like  one  of  the  veriest  nuns  who  ever  inhabited 
these  cloisters.  I  tell  her,  madam,  that  neither  her 
years,  nor  my  fortune,  nor,  indeed,  her  own,  for 
the  child  of  Harry  Howard  was  not  left  pennyless, 
require  that  we  should  live  as  if  the  doors  of  the 
world  were  closed  against  us,  or  there  was  no  other 
entrance  to  St.  Ruth's  but  through  those  antiqua 
ted  windows.  Miss  Plowden,  I  feel  it  to  be  my 
duty  to  inquire  why  those  pieces  of  silk  are  pro 
vided  in  such  an  unusual  abundance,  and  in  so  ex 
traordinary  a  shape  ?" 

"  To  make  a  gala  dress  for  the  ball  you  are 
about  to  give,  sir,"  said  Katherine,  with  a  saucy 
smile,  that  was  only  checked  by  the  reproachful 
glance  of  her  cousin.  "  You  have  taste  in  a  lady' 


THE    PILOT.  141 

attire,  Colonel  Howard ;  will  not  this  bright  yel 
low  form  a  charming  relief  to  my  brown  face,  while 
this  white  and  black  relieve  one  another,  and  this 
pink  contrasts  so  sweetly  with  black  eyes.  Will 
not  the  whole  form  a  turban  fit  for  an  empress  to 
wear  ?" 

As  the  arch  maiden  prattled  on  in  this  unmean 
ing  manner,  her  rapid  fingers  entwined  the  flags  in 
a  confused  maze,  which  she  threw  over  her  head 
in  a  form  not  unlike  the  ornament  for  which  she 
intimated  it  was  intended.  The  veteran  was  by 
far  too  polite  to  dispute  a  lady's  taste,  and  he  re 
newed  the  dialogue,  with  his  slightly  awakened 
suspicions  completely  quieted  by  her  dexterity 
and  artifice.  But  although  it  was  not  difficult  to 
deceive  Colonel  Howard  in  matters  of  female 
dress,  the  case  was  very  different  with  Alice  Duns- 
combe.  This  lady  gazed,  with  a  steady  eye  and 
reproving  countenance  on  the  fantastical  turban, 
until  Katherine  threw  herself  by  her  side,  and  en 
deavoured  to  lead  her  attention  to  other  subjects, 
by  her  playful  motions  and  whispered  questions. 

"  I  was  observing,  Miss  Alice,"  continued  the 
colonel,  "  that  although  the  times  had  certainly 
inflicted  some  loss  on  my  estate,  yet  we  were  not 
so  much  reduced,  as  to  be  unable  to  receive  our 
friends  in  a  manner  that  would  not  disgrace  the 
descendants  of  the  ancient  possessors  of  St.  Ruth. 
Cecilia,  here,  my  brother  Harry's  daughter,  is  a 
young  lady  that  any  uncle  might  be  proud  to  ex 
hibit,  and  I  would  have  her,  madam,  show  your 
English  dames,  that  we  rear  no  unworthy  speci 
mens  of  the  parent  stock  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic." 

"  You  have  only  to  declare  your  pleasure,  my 
good  uncle,"  said  Miss  Howard,  "  and  it  shall  be 
executed." 


142  THE    PILOT. 

"  Tell  us  how  we  can  oblige  you,  sir,"  conti 
nued  Katherine,  "  and  if  it  be  in  any  manner  that 
will  relieve  the  tedium  of  this  dull  residence,  I 
promise  you  at  least  one  cheerful  assistant  to  your 
scheme." 

"  You  speak  fair,"  cried  the  colonel,  "  and  like 
two  discreet  and  worthy  girls  !  Well,  then,  our 
first  step  shall  be  to  send  a  message  to  Dillon  and 
the  captain,  and  invite  them  to  attend  your  coffee. 
I  see  the  hour  approaches." 

Cecilia  made  no  reply,  but  looted  distressed, 
and  dropped  her  mild  eyes  to  the  carpet ;  but  Miss 
Plowden  took  it  upon  herself  to  answer. 

"  Nay,  sir,  that  would  be  for  them  to  proceed 
in  the  matter ;  as  your  proposal  was  that  the  first 
step  should  be  ours,  suppose  we  all  adjourn  to  your 
part  of  the  house,  and  do  the  honours  of  the  tea- 
table  in  your  drawing-room,  instead  of  our  own. 
I  understand,  sir,  that  you  have  had  an  apartment 
fitted  up  for  that  purpose  in  some  style  ;  a  woman's 
taste  might  aid  your  designs,  however." 

"  Miss  Plowden,  I  believe  I  intimated  to  you 
some  time  since,"  said  the  displeased  colonel, 
"  that  so  long  as  certain  suspicious  vessels  were 
known  to  hover  on  this  coast,  I  should  desire  that 
you  and  Miss  Howard  would  confine  yourselves  to 
this  wing." 

"  Do  not  say  that  we  confine  ourselves,"  said 
Katherine,  "  but  let  it  be  spoken  in  plain  English, 
that  you  confine  us  here." 

"  Am  I  a  gaoler,  madam,  that  you  apply  such 
epithets  to  my  conduct !  Miss  Alice  must  form 
strange  conclusions  of  our  manners,  if  she  receive 
her  impressions  from  your  very  singular  remarks 

"  All  measures  adopted  from  a  dread  of  the  ship 
and  schooner  that  ran  within  the  Devil's  Grip,  yes- 


THE    PILOT  143 

ter-eve,  may  be  dispensed  with  now,"  interrupted 
Miss  Dunscombe,  in  a  melancholy,  reflecting  tone. 
"  There  are  few  living,  who  know  the  dangerous 
paths  that  can  conduct  even  the  smallest  craft  in 
safety  from  the  land,  with  daylight  and  fair  winds ; 
but  when  darkness  and  adverse  gales  oppose 
them,  the  chance  for  safety  lies  wholly  in  God's 
kindness." 

"  There  is  truly  much  reason  to  believe  they 
are  lost,"  returned  the  veteran,  in  a  voice  in  which 
no  exultation  Was  apparent. 

"  They  are  not  lost !"  exclaimed  Katherine 
with  startling  energy,  leaving  her  seat,  and  walk 
ing  across  the  room  to  join  Cecilia,  with  an  air  that 
seemed  to  elevate  her  little  figure  to  the  height  of 
her  cousin.  "  They  are  skilful  and  they  are  brave, 
and  what  gallant  sailors  can  do,  will  they  do,  and 
successfully;  besides,  in  whose  behalf  would  a  just 
Providence  sooner  exercise  its  merciful  power, 
than  to  protect  the  daring  children  of  an  oppressed 
country,  while  contending  against  tyranny  and 
countless  wrongs  ?" 

The  conciliating  disposition  of  the  colonel  de 
serted  him,  as  he  listened.  His  own  black  eyes 
sparkled  with  a  vividness  unusual  for  his  years, 
and  his  courtesy  barely  perhiitted  the  lady  to  con 
clude,  ere  he  broke  forth. 

"  What  sin,  madam,  what  damning  crime,  would 
sooner  call  down  the  just  wrath  of  Heaven  on  the 
transgressors,  than  the  act  of  foul  rebellion  ?  It 
was  this  crime,  madam,  that  deluged  England  in 
blood  in  the  reign  of  the  first  Charles ;  it  is  this 
crime  that  has  dyed  more  fields  red  than  all  the 
rest  of  man's  offences  united ;  it  has  been  visited 
on  our  race  as  a  condign  punishment,  from  the 
days  of  the  deservedly  devoted  Absalom,  down  to 
the  present  time  ;  in  short,  it  lost  heaven  for  evei 


144  THE    PILOT. 

to  some  of  the  most  glorious  of  its  angels,  and 
there  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  the  one 
unpardonable  sin  named  in  the  holy  gospels." 

"  I  know  not  that  you  have  authority  for  believ 
ing  it  to  be  the  heavy  enormity  that  you  mention, 
Colonel  Howard,"  said  Miss  Dunscombe,  antici 
pating  the  spirited  reply  of  Katherine,  and  willing 
to  avert  it ;  she  hesitated  an  instant,  and  then  draw 
ing  a  heavy,  shivering  sigh,  she  continued,  in  a 
voice  that  grew  softer  as  she  spoke — "  'tis  indeed 
a  crime  of  magnitude,  and  one  that  throws  the 
common  backslidings  of  our  lives,  speaking  by  com 
parison,  into  the  sunshine  of  his  favour.  Many 
there  are,  who  sever  the  dearest  ties  of  this  life, 
by  madly  rushing  into  its  sinful  vortex  ;  for  I  fain 
think  the  heart  grows  hard  with  the  sight  of  hu 
man  Calamity,  and  becomes  callous  to  the  miseries 
its  owner  inflicts ;  especially  where  wre  act  the 
wrongs  on  our  own  kith  and  kin,  regardless  who 
or  how  many  that  are  dear  to  us  suffer  by  our  evil 
deeds.  It  is,  besides,  Colonel  Howard,  a  dan 
gerous  temptation,  to  one  little  practised  in  the 
great  world,  to  find  himself  suddenly  elevated  into 
the  seat  of  power ;  and  if  it  do  not  lead  to  the 
commission  of  great  crimes,  it  surely  prepares  the 
way  to  it,  by  hardening  the  heart." 

"  I  hear  you  patiently,  Miss  Alice,"  said  Kathe 
rine,  dancing  her  little  foot,  in  affected  coolness, 
"  for  you  neither  know  of  whom  nor  to  whom  you 
speak.  But  Colonel  Howard  has  not  that  apology. 
Peace,  Cecilia,  for  I  must  speak !  Believe  them 
not,  dear  girl ;  there  is  not  a  wet  hair  on  their 
heads.  For  you,  Colonel  Howard,  who  must  re 
collect  that  the  sister's  son  of  the  mothers  of  both 
your  niece  and  myself  is  on  board  that  frigate, 
there  is  an  appearance  of  cruelty  in  using  such  lan 
guage." 


THE    PILOT.  145 

"  I  pity  the  boy !  from  my  soul  I  pity  him  !"  ex 
claimed  the  veteran  ;  "  he  is  a  child,  and  has  fol 
lowed  the  current  that  is  sweeping  out  unhappy 
colonies  down  the  tide  of  destruction.  But  there 
are  others  in  that  vessel,  who  have  no  excuse  of 
ignorance  to  offer.  There  is  a  son  of  my  old  ac 
quaintance,  and  the  bosom  friend  of  my  brother 
Harry,  Cecilia's  father,  dashing  Hugh  Griffith,  as 
we  called  him.  The  urchins  left  home  together, 
and  were  rated  on  board  one  of  his  majesty's  ves 
sels  on  the  same  day.  Poor  Harry  lived  to  carry 
a  broad  pennant  in  the  service,  and  Hugh  died  in 
command  of  a  frigate.  This  boy,  too  !  he  was  nur 
tured  on  board  his  father's  vessel,  and  learned, 
from  his  majesty's  discipline,  how  to  turn  his  arms 
against  his  king.  There  is  something  shockingly 
unnatural  in  that  circumstance,  Miss  Alice  ;  'tis  like 
the  child  inflicting  a  blow  on  the  parent.  'Tis  such 
men  as  these,  with  Washington  at  their  head,  who 
maintain  the  bold  front  this  rebellion  wears." 

"  There  are  men,  who  have  never  worn  the  ser 
vile  livery  of  Britain,  sir,  whose  names  are  as  fond 
ly  cherished  in  America  as  any  that  she  boasts 
of,"  said  Katherine,  proudly ;  "ay,  sir,  and  those 
who  would  gladly  oppose  the  bravest  officers  in 
the  British  fleet." 

"  I  contend  not  against  your  misguided  reason," 
said  Colonel  Howard,  rising  with  cool  respect. 
"  A  young  lady  who  ventures  to  compare  rebels 
with  gallant  gentlemen  engaged  in  their  duty  to 
their  prince,  cannot  escape  the  imputation  of  pos 
sessing  a  misguided  reason.  No  man — I  speak  not 
of  women,  who  cannot  be  supposed  so  well  versed 
in  human  nature — but  no  man,  who  has  reached 
the  time  of  life  that  entitles  him  to  be  called  by 
that  name,  can  consort  with  these  disorganizers, 
who  would  destroy  every  thing  that  is  sacred — 
13 


146  THE    PILOT. 

these  levellers,  who  would  pull  down  the  great,  to 
exalt  the  little — these  Jacobites,  who — who — " 

"  Nay,  sir,  if  you  are  at  a  loss  for  opprobrious 
epithets,"  said  Katherine,  with  provoking  coolness, 
"  call  on  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon  for  assistance ;  he 
waits  your  pleasure  at  the  door." 

Colonel  Howard  turned  in  amazement,  forget 
ting  his  angry  declamations  at  this  unexpected  in 
telligence,  and  beheld,  in  reality,  the  sombre  vi 
sage  of  his  kinsman,  who  stood  holding  the  door 
in  his  hand,  apparently  as  much  surprised  at  find 
ing  himself  in  the  presence  of  the  ladies,  as  they 
hemselves  could  be  at  his  unusual  visit. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


M  Pritbee,  Kate,  let's  stand  aside,  and  see  the  end  of  this  controversy ." 

Shakspeare 


DURING  the  warm  discussions  of  the  preceding 
chapter,  Miss  Howard  had  bowed  her  pale  face  to 
the  arm  of  the  couch,  and  sate  an  unwilling  and 
distressed  listener  to  the  controversy  ;  but  now 
that  another,  and  one  whom  she  thought  an  unau 
thorized  intruder  on  her  privacy,  was  announced, 
she  asserted  the  dignity  of  her  sex  as  proudly, 
though  with  something  more  of  discretion,  than 
her  cousin  could  possibly  have  done.  Rising  from 
her  seat,  she  inquired — 

"  To  what  are  we  indebted  for  so  unexpected  a 
visit  from  Mr.  Dillon  ?  Surely  he  must  know  that 
we  are  prohibited  going  to  the  part  of  the  dwell 
ing  where  he  resides,  and  I  trust  Colonel  Howard 
will  tell  him  that  common  justice  requires  we 
should  be  permitted  to  be  private." 

The  gentleman  replied,  in  a  manner  in  which 
malignant  anger  was  sufficiently  mingled  with  cal 
culating  humility — 

"  Miss  Howard  will  think  better  of  my  intru 
sion,  when  she  knows  that  I  come  on  business  of 
importance  to  her  uncle." 

"  Ah  !  that  may  alter  the  case,  Kit ;  but  the 
ladies  must  have  the  respect  that  is  due  to  their 


148  THE    PILOT. 

sex.  I  forgot,  somehow,  to  have  myself  announced  ; 
but  that  Borroughcliffe  leads  me  deeper  into  my 
Madeira  than  I  have  been  accustomed  to  go,  since 
the  time  when  my  poor  brother  Harry,  with  his 
worthy  friend,  Hugh  Griffith — the  devil  seize 
Hugh  Griffith,  and  all  his  race — your  pardon,  Miss 
Alice — what  is  your  business  with  me,  Mr.  Dil 
lon  ?" 

"  I  bear  a  message  from  Captain  Borroughcliffe. 
You  may  remember  that,  according  to  your  sug 
gestions,  the  sentinels  were  to  be  changed  every 
night,  sir." 

"  Ay  !  ay  !  we  practised  that  in  our  campaign 
against  Montcalm  ;  'twas  necessary  to  avoid  the 
murders  of  their  Indians,  who  were  sure,  Miss 
Alice,  to  shoot  down  a  man  at  his  post,  if  he  were 
placed  two  nights  running  in  the  same  place." 

"  Well,  sir,  your  prudent  precautions  have  not 
been  thrown  away,"  continued  Dillon,  moving 
farther  into  the  apartment,  as  if  he  felt  himself  be 
coming  a  more  welcome  guest  as  he  proceeded ; 
"  the  consequences  are,  that  we  have  already  made 
three  prisoners." 

"  Truly  it  has  been  a  most  politic  scheme  !"  ex 
claimed  Katherine  Plowden,  with  infinite  contempt. 
"  I  suppose,  as  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon  applauds  it 
so  highly,  that  it  has  some  communion  with  the 
law  !  and  that  the  redoubtable  garrison  of  St.  Ruth 
are  about  to  reap  the  high  glory  of  being  most  suc 
cessful  thief-takers  !" 

The  sallow  face  of  Dillon  actually  became  livid 
as  he  replied,  and  his  whole  frame  shook  with  the 
rage  that  he  vainly  endeavoured  to  suppress. 

"  There  may  be  a  closer  communion  with  the 
law,  and  its  ministers,  perhaps,  than  Miss  Plowden 
can  desire,"  he  said  ;  "  for  rebellion  seldom  finds 
favour  in  any  Christian  code." 


THE    PILOT.  149 

"  Rebellion  !"  exclaimed  the  colonel ;  "  and 
what  has  this  detention  of  three  vagabonds  to  do 
with  rebellion,  Kit  ?  Has  the  damnable  poison 
found  its  way  across  the  Atlantic  ? — your  pardon, 
Miss  Alice — but  this  is  a  subject  on  which  you  can 
feel  with  me  ;  I  know  your  sentiments  on  the  al 
legiance  that  is  due  to  our  anointed  sovereign. — 
Speak,  Mr.  Dillon,  are  we  surrounded  by  another 
set  of  Demons !  if  so,  we  must  give  ourselves  to 
the  work,  and  rally  round  our  prince  ;  for  this 
island  is  the  main  pillar  of  his  throne." 

"  I  cannot  say  that  there  is  any  appearance,  at 
present,  of  an  intention  to  rise  in  this  island,"  said 
Dillon,  with  demure  gravity ;  "  though  the  riots 
in  London  warrant  any  precautionary  measures  on 
the  part  of  his  majesty's  ministers,  even  to  a  sus 
pension  of  the  habeas  corpus.  But  you  have  had 
your  suspicions  concerning  two  certain  vessels  that 
have  been  threatening  the  coast,  for  several  days 
past,  in  a  most  piratical  manner  ?" 

The  little  foot  of  Katherine  played  rapidly  on 
the  splendid  carpet,  but  she  contented  herself  with 
bestowing  a  glance  of  the  most  sovereign  contempt 
on  the  speaker,  as  if  she  disdained  any  further  re 
ply.  With  the  colonel,  however,  this  was  touch 
ing  a  theme  that  lay  nearest  his  heart,  and  he  an 
swered,  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  importance  of 
the  subject — 

"  You  speak  like  a  sensible  man.  and  a  loyal 
subject,  Mr.  Dillon.  The  habeas  corpus,  Miss 
Alice,  was  obtained  in  the  reign  of  King  John, 
along  with  magna  charta,  for  the  security  of  the 
throne,  by  his  majesty's  barons ;  some  of  my  own 
blood  were  of  the  number,  which  alone  would  be 
a  pledge  that  the  dignity  of  the  crown  was  properly 
consulted.  As  to  our  piratical  countrymen,  Chris 
topher,  there  is  much  reason  to  think  that  the  ven- 

ia* 


150  THE    PILOT. 

geance  of  an  offended  Providence  has  already 
reached  them.  Those  who  know  the  coast  well, 
tell  me  that  without  a  better  pilot  than  an  enemy 
would  be  likely  to  procure,  it  would  be  impossible 
for  any  vessel  to  escape  the  shoals  among  which 
they  entered,  on  a  dark  night,  and  with  an  adverse 
gale  ;  the  morning  has  arrived,  and  they  are  not 
to  be  seen  !" 

"  But  be  they  friends  or  be  they  enemies,  sir," 
continued  Dillon,  respectfully,  "  there  is  much 
reason  to  think  that  we  have  now  in  the  Abbey 
those  who  can  tell  us  something  of  their  true  cha 
racter  ;  for  the  men  we  have  detained  carry  with 
them  the  appearance  of  having  just  landed,  and 
wear  not  only  the  dress  but  the  air  of  seamen." 

"  Of  seamen  !"  echoed  Katherine,  a  deadly 
paleness  chasing  from  her  cheeks  the  bloom  which 
indignation  had  heightened. 

"  Of  seamen,  Miss  Plowden,"  repeated  Dillon, 
with  malignant  satisfaction,  but  concealing  it  un 
der  an  air  of  submissive  respect. 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,  for  so  gentle  a  term,"  re 
plied  the  young  lady,  recollecting  herself,  and  re 
covering  her  presence  of  mind  in  the  same  in 
stant  ;  "  the  imagination  of  Mr.  Dillon  is  so  apt  to 
conjure  the  worst,  that  he  is  entitled  to  our  praise 
for  so  far  humouring  our  weakness,  as  not  to 
alarm  us  with  the  apprehensions  of  their  being  pi 
rates." 

cc  Nay,  madam,  they  may  yet  deserve  tha, 
name,"  returned  the  other,  coolly ;  "  but  my  edu 
cation  has  instructed  me  to  hear  the  testimony  be 
fore  I  pronounce  sentence." 

"  Ah  !  that  the  boy  has  found  in  his  Coke  upon 
Littleton,"  cried  the  colonel ;  "  the  law  is  a  salu 
tary  corrective  to  human  infirmities,  Miss  Alice, 
and  among  other  things,  it  teaches  patience  to  a 


THE    PILOT.  151 

hasty  temperament.  But  for  this  cursed,  unnatu 
ral  rebellion,  madam,  the  young  man  would,  at  this 
moment,  have  been  diffusing  its  blessings  from  a 
judicial  chair,  in  one  of  the  colonies — ay  !  and  I 
pledge  myself,  to  all  alike,  black  and  white,  red 
and  yeftow,  with  such  proper  dietinctions  as  na 
ture  has  made  between  the  officer  and  the  private. 
Keep  a  good  heart,  kinsman  ;  we  shall  yet  find  a 
time  !  the  royal  arms  have  many  hands,  and  things 
look  better  at  the  last  advices.  But  come,  we  will 
proceed  to  the  guard-room,  and  put  these  strag 
glers  to  the  question  ;  runaways,  I'll  venture  to 
predict,  from  one  of  his  majesty's  cruisers,  or,  per 
haps,  honest  subjects  engaged  in  supplying  the  ser 
vice  with  men.  Come,  Kit,  come,  let  us  go,  and — " 

"  Are  we  then  to  lose  the  company  of  Colonel 
Howard  so  soon  ?"  said  Katherine,  advancing  to 
her  guardian,  with  an  air  of  blandishment  and  plea 
santry.  "  I  know  that  he  too  soon  forgets  the 
hasty  language  of  our  little  disputes,  to  part  in  an 
ger,  if,  indeed,  he  will  even  quit  us  till  he  has 
tasted  of  our  coffee." 

The  veteran  turned  to  the  speaker  of  this  unex 
pected  address,  and  listened  writh  profound  atten 
tion.  When  she  had  done,  he  replied,  with  a  good 
deal  of  softness  in  his  tones — 

"  Ah  !  provoking  one  !  you  know  me  too  well, 
to  doubt  my  forgiveness ;  but  duty  must  be  at 
tended  to,  though  even  a  young  lady's  smiles  tempt 
me  to  remain.  Yes,  yes,  child,  you,  too,  are  the 
daughter  of  a  very  brave  and  worthy  seaman ;  but 
you  carry  your  attachment  to  that  profession  too 
far,  Miss  Plowden — you  do,  indeed  you  do." 

Katherine  might  have  faintly  blushed,  but  the 
slight  smile,  which  mingled  with  the  expression  of 
her  shame,  gave  to  her  countenance  a  look  of  ad 
ditional  archness,  and  she  laid  her  hand  lightly  on 


152  THE    PILOT. 

the  sleeve  of  her  guardian,  to  detain  him,  as  she 
replied — 

"  Yet  why  leave  us,  Colonel  Howard  ?  It  is 
long  since  we  have  seen  you  in  the  cloisters,  and 
you  know  you  come  as  a  father ;  tarry,  and  you 
may  yet  add  confessor  to  the  title." 

"  I  know  thy  sins  already,  girl,"  said  the  worthy 
colonel,  unconsciously  yielding  to  her  gentle  efforts 
to  lead  him  back  to  his  seat ;  "  they  are,  deadly 
rebellion  in  your  heart  to  your  prince,  a  most  in 
veterate  propensity  to  salt-water,  and  a  great  dis 
respect  to  the  advice  and  wishes  of  an  old  fellow 
whom  your  father's  will  and  the  laws  of  the  realm 
have  made  the  guardian  of  your  person  and  for 
tune." 

"  Nay,  say  not  the  last,  dear  sir,"  cried  Kathe- 
rine ;  "  for  there  is  not  a  syllable  you  have  ever 
said  to  me,  on  that  foolish  subject,  that  I  have  for 
gotten.  Will  you  resume  your  seat  again  ?  Ceci 
lia,  Colonel  Howard  consents  to  take  his  coffee 
with  us." 

"  But  you  forget  the  three  men,  honest  Kit, 
there,  and  our  respectable  guest,  Captain  Bor- 
roughcliffe." 

"  Let  honest  Kit  stay  there,  if  he  please  ;  you 
may  send  a  request  to  Captain  Borroughcliffe 
to  join  our  party  ;  I  have  a  woman's  curiosity  to 
see  the  soldier  ;  and  as  for  the  three  men — "  she 
paused,  and  affected  to  muse  a  moment,  when  she 
continued,  as  if  struck  by  an  obvious  thought — 
"  Yes,  and  the  men  can  be  brought  in  and  ex 
amined  here  ;  who  knows  but  they  may  have  been 
wrecked  in  the  gale,  and  need  our  pity  and  assist 
ance,  rather  than  deserve  your  suspicions." 

"  There  is  a  solemn  warning  in  Miss  Plowden's 
conjecture,  that  should  come  home  to  the  breasts 
of  all  who  live  on  this  wild  coast,"  said  Alice  Duns- 


THE    PILOT.  153 

combe ;  u  I  have  known  many  a  sad  wreck  among 
the  hidden  shoals,  and  when  the  wind  has  blown 
but  a  gentle  gale,  compared  to  last  night's  tempest. 
The  wars,  and  the  uncertainties  of  the  times,  to 
gether  with  man's  own  wicked  passions,  have  made 
great  havoc  with  those  who  knew  well  the  wind 
ings  of  the  channels  among  the  "  Ripples."  Some 
there  were  wrho  could  pass,  as  I  have  often  heard, 
within  a  fearful  distance  of  the  "  Devil's  Grip," 
the  darkest  night  that  ever  shadowed  England  : 
but  all  are  now  gone  of  that  daring  set,  either  by 
the  hand  of  death,  or,  what  is  even  as  mournful, 
by  unnatuFal  banishment  from  the  land  of  their  fa 
thers." 

"  This  war  has  then  probably  drawn  off  most  of 
them,  for  your  recollections  must  be  quite  recent. 
Miss  Alice,"  said  the  veteran  ;  "  as  many  of  them 
were  engaged  in  the  business  of  robbing  his  majes 
ty's  revenue,  the  country  is  in  some  measure  re 
quited  for  their  former  depredations,  by  their  pre 
sent  services,  and  at  the  same  time  it  is  happily 
rid  of  their  presence.  Ah  !  madam,  ours  is  a  glo 
rious  constitution,  where  things  are  so  nicely  ba 
lanced,  that,  as  in  the  physical  organization  of  a 
healthy,  vigorous  man,  the  baser  parts  are  purified 
in  the  course  of  things,  by  its  own  wholesome 
struggles." 

The  pale  features  of  Alice  Dunscombe  became 
slightly  tinged  with  red,  as  the  colonel  proceeded, 
nor  did  the  faint  glow7  entirely  leave  her  pallid 
face,  until  she  had  said — 

"  There  might  have  been  some  who  knew  not 
how  to  respect  the  laws  of  the  land,  for  such  are 
never  wanting ;  but  there  were  others,  who,  how 
ever  guilty  they  might  be  in  many  respects,  need 
not  charge  themselves  with  that  mean  crime,  and 
jet  who  could  find  the  passages  that  lie  hid  from 


154  THE   PILOT. 

common  eyes,  beneath  the  rude  waves,  as  well  as 
you  could  find  the  way  through  the  halls  and  gal 
leries  of  the  Abbey,  with  a  noonday  sun  shining 
apon  its  vanes  and  high  chimneys." 

"  Is  it  your  pleasure,  Colonel  Howard,  that  we 
examine  the  three  men,  and  ascertain  whether  they 
belong  to  the  number  of  these  gifted  pilots  ?"  said 
Christopher  Dillon,  who  was  growing  uneasy  at 
his  awkward  situation,  and  who  hardly  deemed  it 
necessary  to  conceal  the  look  of  contempt  which 
he  cast  at  the  mild  Alice,  while  he  spoke  ;  "  per 
haps  we  may  gather  information  enough  from  them, 
to  draw  a  chart  of  the  coast  that  may  gain  us  cre 
dit  with  my  lords  of  the  Admiralty." 

This  unprovoked  attack  on  their  unresisting  and 
unoffending  guest,  brought  the  rich  blood  to  the 
very  temples  of  Miss  Howard,  who  rose,  and  ad 
dressed  herself  to  her  kinsman,  with  a  manner  that 
could  not  easily  be  mistaken,  any  more  than  it 
could  be  condemned — 

"  If  Mr.  Dillon  will  comply  with  the  wishes  of 
Colonel  Howard,  as  my  cousin  has  expressed  them, 
we  shall  not,  at  least,  have  to  accuse  ourselves  of 
unnecessarily  detaining  men  who  probably  are 
more  unfortunate  than  guilty." 

When  she  concluded,  Cecilia  walked  across  the 
apartment,  and  took  a  seat  by  the  side  of  Alice 
Dunscombe,  with  whom  she  began  to  converse,  in 
a  low,  soothing  tone  of  voice.  Mr.  Dillon  bowed 
with  a  deprecating  humility,  and  having  ascertained 
that  Colonel  Howard  chose  to  give  an  audience, 
where  he  sate,  to  the  prisoners,  he  withdrew  to 
execute  his  mission,  secretly  exulting  at  any  change 
that  promised  to  lead  to  a  renewal  of  an  intercourse 
that  might  terminate  more  to  his  advantage,  than 
the  lofty  beauty  whose  favour  he  courted  was,  at 
present,  disposed  to  concede. 


THE    PILOT.  155 

"  Christopher  is  a  worthy,  serviceable,  good 
fellow,"  said  the  colonel,  when  the  door  closed, 
"  and  I  hope  to  live,  yet,  to  see  him  clad  in  er 
mine  ;  I  would  not  be  understood  literally,  but 
figuratively,  for  furs  would  but  ill  comport  with 
the  climate  of  the  Carolinas.  I  trust  I  am  to  be 
consulted  by  his  majesty's  ministers  when  the  new 
appointments  shall  be  made  for  the  subdued  colo 
nies,  and  he  may  safely  rely  on  my  good  word  be 
ing  spoken  in  his  favour.  Would  he  not  make  an 
excellent  and  independent  ornament  of  the  bench, 
Miss  Plowden  ?" 

Katherine  compressed  her  lips  a  little,  as  she 
replied — 

"  I  must  profit  by  his  own  discreet  rules,  and 
see  testimony  to  that  effect,  before  I  decide,  sir. 
But  listen !"  The  young  lady's  colour  changed 
rapidly,  and  her  eyes  became  fixed  in  a  sort  of 
feverish  gaze  on  the  door.  "  He  has  at  least  been 
active  ;  I  hear  the  heavy  tread  of  men  already  ap 
proaching," 

"  Ah  !  it  is  he  certainly ;  justice  ought  always 
to  be  prompt  as  well  as  certain,  to  make  it  perfect ; 
like  a  drum-head  court-martial,  which,  by  the  way, 
is  as  summary  a  sort  of  government  as  heart  could 
wish  to  live  under.  If  his  majesty's  ministers 
could  be  persuaded  to  introduce  into  the  revolted 
colonies — " 

"  Listen !"  interrupted  Katherine,  in  a  voice 
which  bespoke  her  deep  anxiety  ;  "  they  draw 
near !" 

The  sound  of  footsteps  was  in  fact  now  so  audi 
ble  as  to  induce  the  colonel  to  suspend  the  delive 
ry  of  his  plan  for  governing  the  recovered  pro 
vinces.  The  long,  low  gallery,  which  was  paved 
with  a  stone  flagging,  soon  brought  the  footsteps 
of  the  approaching  party  more  distinctly  to  their 


156  THE    PILOT. 

ears,  and  presently  a  low  tap  at  the  door  announced 
their  arrival,  Colonel  Howard  arose,  with  the  air 
of  one  who  was  to  sustain  the  principal  character 
*n  the  ensuing  interview,  and  bade  them  enter. 
Cecilia  and  Alice  Dunscombe  merely  cast  careless 
looks  at  the  opening  door,  indifferent  to  the  scene  ; 
but  the  quick  eye  of  Katherine  embraced,  at  a 
glance,  every  figure  in  the  group.  Drawing  a 
long,  quivering  breath,  she  fell  back  on  the  couch, 
and  her  eyes  again  lighted  with  their  playful  ex 
pression,  as  she  hummed  a  low,  rapid  air,  with  a 
voice  in  which  even  the  suppressed  tones  were  li 
quid  melody. 

Dillon  entered,  preceding  the  soldier,  whose 
gait  had  become  more  steady,  and  in  whose  rigid 
eye  a  thoughtful  expression  had  taken  the  place 
of  its  former  vacant  gaze.  In  short,  something 
had  manifestly  restored  to  him  a  more  complete 
command  of  his  mental  powers,  although  he  might 
not  have  been  absolutely  sobered.  The  rest  of 
the  party  continued  in  the  gallery,  while  Mr.  Dil 
lon  presented  the  renovated  captain  to  the  colonel, 
when  the  latter  did  him  the  same  kind  office  with 
the  ladies. 

"  Miss  Plowden,"said  the  veteran,  for  she  offered 
first  in  the  circle,  "  this  is  my  friend,  Captain 
Borroughcliffe  ;  he  has  long  been  ambitious  of  this 
honour,  and  I  have  no  doubt  his  reception  will  be 
such  as  to  leave  him  no  cause  to  repent  he  has 
been  at  last  successful." 

Katherine  smiled,  and  answered,  with  ambigu 
ous  emphasis — 

"  I  know  not  how  to  thank  him  sufficiently  for 
the  care  he  has  bestowed  on  our  poor  persons." 

The  soldier  looked  steadily  at  her,  for  a  moment, 
with  an  eye  that  seemed  to  threaten  a  retaliation 
in  kind,  ere  he  replied — 


THE    PILOT.  157 

•*•  One  of  those  smiles,  madam,  would  be  an  am 
ple  compensation  for  services  that  are  more  real 
than  such  as  exist  only  in  intention." 

Katherine  bowed  with  more  complacency  than 
she  usually  bestowed  on  those  who  wore  the  Bri 
tish  uniform,  and  they  proceeded  to  the  next. 

"  This  is  Miss  Alice  Dunscombe,  Captain  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  daughter  of  a  very  worthy  clergyman 
who  was  formerly  the  curate  of  this  parish,  and  a 
lady  who  does  us  the  pleasure  of  giving  us  a  good 
deal  of  her  society,  though  far  less  than  we  all  wish 
for." 

The  captain  returned  the  civil  inclination  of 
Alice,  and  the  colonel  proceeded. 

"  Miss  Howard,  allow  me  to  present  Captain 
Borroughcliffe,  a  gentleman  who,  having  volun 
teered  to  defend  St.  Ruth  in  these  critical  times, 
merits  all  the  favour  of  its  mistress." 

Cecilia  gracefully  rose,  and  received  her  guest 
with  sweet  complacency.  The  soldier  made  no  re 
ply  to  the  customary  compliments  that  she  uttered, 
but  stood  an  instant  gazing  at  her  speaking  coun 
tenance,  and  then,  laying  his  hand  involuntarily  on 
his  breast,  bowed  nearly  to  his  sword-hilt. 

These  formalities  duly  observed,  the  colonel  de 
clared  his  readiness  to  receive  the  prisoners.  As 
the  door  was  opened  by  Dillon,  Katherine  cast  a 
cool  and  steady  look  at  the  strangers,  and  beheld 
the  light  glancing  along  the  arms  of  the  soldiers 
who  guarded  them.  But  the  seamen  entered 
alone ;  while  the  rattling  of  arms,  and  the  heavy 
dash  of  the  muskets  on  the  stone  pavement,  an 
nounced  that  it  was  thought  prudent  to  retain  a 
force  at  hand,  to  watch  these  secret  intruders  on 
the  grounds  of  the  abbey. 

14 


CHAPTER  Xll. 


«  Food  for  powder  ;  they'll  fill  a  pit  as  well  as  better." 

Falstaff. 


THE  three  men,  who  now  entered  the  apart 
ment,  appeared  to  be  nothing  daunted  by  the  pre 
sence  into  which  they  were  ushered,  though  clad 
in  the  coarse  and  weather-beaten  vestments  of 
seamen  who  had  been  exposed  to  recent  and  se 
vere  duty.  They  silently  obeyed  the  direction  of 
the  soldier's  finger,  and  took  their  stations  in  a 
distant  corner  of  the  room,  like  men  who  knew 
the  deference  due  to  rank,  at  the  same  time  that 
the  habits  of  their  lives  had  long  accustomed  them 
to  encounter  the  vicissitudes  of  the  world.  With 
this  slight  preparation,  Colonel  Howard  began  the 
business  of  examination. 

"  I  trust  ye  are  all  good  and  loyal  subjects,"  the 
veteran  commenced,  with  a  considerate  respect 
for  innocence,  "  but  the  times  are  such  that  even 
the  most  worthy  characters  become  liable  to  sus 
picion;  and,  consequently,  if  our  apprehensions 
should  prove  erroneous,  you  must  overlook  the 
mistake,  and  attribute  it  to  the  awful  condition  in 
to  which  rebellion  has  plunged  this  empire.  We 
have  much  reason  to  fear  that  some  project  is 
about  to  be  undertaken  on  the  coast  by  the  enemy, 


THE    PIL01  159 

who  has  appeared,  we  know,  with  a  frigate  and 
schooner ;  and  the  audacity  of  the  rebels  is  only 
equalled  by  their  shameless  and  wicked  disrespect 
for  the  rights  of  the  sovereign." 

While  Colonel  Howard  was  uttering  his  apolo 
getic  preamble,  the  prisoners  fastened  their  eyes 
on  him  with  much  interest ;  but  when  he  alluded 
to  the  apprehended  attack,  the  gaze  of  two  of 
them  became  more  keenly  attentive,  and,  before 
he  concluded,  they  exchanged  furtive  glances  of 
deep  meaning.  No  reply  was  made,  however,  and 
after  a  short  pause,  as  if  to  allow  time  for  his  words 
to  make  a  proper  impression,  the  veteran  con 
tinued — 

"  We  have  no  evidence,  I  understand,  that  you 
are  in  the  smallest  degree  connected  with  the  ene 
mies  of  this  country  ;  but  as  you  have  been  found 
out  of  the  king's  highway,  or,  rather,  on  a  by-path, 
which  I  must  confess  is  frequently  used  by  the 
people  of  the  neighbourhood,  but  which  is  never 
theless  nothing  but  a  by-path,  it  becomes  no  more 
than  what  self-preservation  requires  of  us,  to  ask 
you  a  few  such  questions  as  I  trust  will  be  satis 
factorily  answered.  To  use  your  own  nautical 
phrases,  c  from  whence  came  ye,  pray  ?'  and  '  whi 
ther  are  ye  bound  ?'  " 

A  low,  deep  voice  replied — 

"  From  Sunderland,  last,  and  bound,  over  land, 
to  Wrhitehaven." 

This  simple  and  direct  answer  was  hardly  given, 
before  the  attention  of  the  listeners  was  called  to 
Alice  Dunscombe,  who  uttered  a  faint  shriek,  and 
rose  from  her  seat  involuntarily,  while  her  eyes 
seemed  to  roll  fearfully,  and  perhaps  a  little  wild 
ly,  round  the  room. 

"  Are  you  ill,  Miss  Alice  ?"  said  the  sweet, 
soothing  tones  of  Cecilia  Howard  ;  "  you  are,  in- 


160  THE    PILOT. 

deed  you  are  ;  lean  on  me,  that  I  may  lead  you  to 
your  apartment.7' 

"  Did  you  hear  it,  or  was  it  only  fancy  !"  she 
answered,  her  cheek  blanched  to  the  whiteness  of 
death,  and  her  whole  frame  shuddering  as  if  in 
convulsions ;  "  say,  did  you  hear  it  too  ?" 

"  I  have  heard  nothing  but  the  voice  of  my  un 
cle,  who  is  standing  near  you,  anxious,  as  we  all 
are,  for  your  recovery  from  this  dreadful  agitation." 

Alice  still  gazed  wildly  from  face  to  face.  Her 
eye  did  not  rest  satisfied  with  dwelling  on  those 
who  surrounded  her,  but  surveyed,  with  a  sort  of 
frantic  eagerness,  the  figures  and  appearance  of 
the  three  men,  who  stood  in  humble  patience,  the 
silent  and  unmoved  witnesses  of  this  extraordinary 
scene.  At  length  she  veiled  her  eyes  with  both 
her  hands,  as  if  to  shut  out  some  horrid  vision,  and 
then  removing  them,  she  smiled  languidly,  as  she 
signed  for  Cecilia  to  assist  her  from  the  room.  To 
the  polite  and  assiduous  offers  of  the  gentlemen, 
she  returned  no  other  thanks  than  those  conveyed 
in  her  looks  and  gestures  ;  but  when  the  sentinels 
who  paced  the  gallery  were  passed,  and  the  ladies 
were  alone,  she  breathed  a  long,  shivering  sigh, 
and  found  an  utterance. 

"  'Twas  like  a  voice  from  the  silent  grave  !" 
she  said,  "  but  it  could  be  no  more  than  mockery, 
No,  no,  'tis  a  just  punishment  for  letting  the  image 
of  the  creature  fill  the  place  that  should  be  occu 
pied  only  with  the  Creator.  Ah  !  Miss  Howard, 
Miss  Plowden,  ye  are  both  young — in  the  pride 
of  your  beauty  and  loveliness — but  little  do  ye 
know,  and  less  do  ye  dread,  the  temptations  and 
errors  of  a  sinful  world." 

"  Her  thoughts  wander!"  whispered  Kathenne, 
with  anxious  tenderness  ;  "  some  awful  calamity 
has  affected  her  intellects  '" 


THE    PILOT.  161 

"  Yes,  it  must  be  ;  my  sinful  thoughts  have 
wandered,  and  conjured  sounds  that  it  would  have 
been  dreadful  to  have  heard  in  truth,  and  within 
these  walls,"  said  Alice,  more  composedly,  smiling 
with  a  ghastly  expression,  as  she  gazed  on  the  two 
beautiful  solicitous  maidens  who  supported  her 
yielding  person.  "  But  the  moment  of  weakness  is 
passed,  and  I  am  better ;  aid  me  to  my  room,  and 
return,  that  you  may  not  interrupt  the  reviving 
harmony  between  yourselves  and  Colonel  How 
ard.  I  am  now  better,  nay,  I  am  quite  restored." 

"  Say  not  so,  dear  Miss  Alice,"  returned  Ce 
cilia  ;  "  your  face  denies  what  your  kindness  to  us 
induces  you  to  utter ;  ill,  very  ill,  you  are,  nor 
shall  even  your  own  commands  induce  me  to  leave 
you." 

"  Remain,  then,"  said  Miss  Dunscombe,  be 
stowing  a  look  of  grateful  affection  on  her  lovely 
supporter  ;  "  and  while  our  Katherine  returns  to 
the  drawing-room,  to  give  the  gentlemen  their 
coffee,  you  shall  continue  with  me,  as  my  gentle 
nurse." 

By  this  time  they  had  gained  the  apartment, 
and  Katherine,  after  assisting  her  cousin  to  place 
Alice  on  her  bed,  returned  to  do  the  honours  of 
the  drawing-room. 

Colonel  Howard  ceased  his  examination  of  the 
prisoners  at  her  entrance,  to  inquire,  with  courtly 
solicitude,  after  the  invalid  ;  and,  when  his  ques 
tions  were  answered,  he  again  proceeded,  as  fol 
lows — 

"  This  is  what  the  lads  would  call  plain-sailing, 
Borroughcliffe ;  they  are  out  of  employment  in 
Sunderland,  and  have  acquaintances  and  relatives 
in  Whitehaven,  to  whom  they  are  going  for  assist 
ance  and  laboui .  All  very  probable,  and  perfectly 
harmless." 

14* 


162  THE    PILOT. 

"  Nothing  more  so,  my  respectable  host,'*  re 
turned  the  jocund  soldier ;  "  but  it  seemeth  a 
grievous  misfortune  that  a  trio  of  such  flesh  and 
blood  should  need  work  wherewithal  to  exercise 
their  thews  and  sinews,  while  so  man}'  of  the  ves 
sels  of  his  majesty's  fleet  navigate  the  ocean  in 
quest  of  the  enemies  of  old  England." 

"  There  is  truth  in  that ;  much  truth  in  your 
remark,"  cried  the  colonel.  "  What  say  you,  my 
lads,  will  you  fight  the  Frenchman  and  the  Don, 
ay  !  and  even  my  own  rebellious  and  infatuated 
countrymen  ?  Nay,  by  heaven,  it  is  not  a  trifle 
that  shall  prevent  his  majesty  from  possessing  the 
services  of  three  such  heroes.  Here  are  five 
guineas  a-piece  for  you  the  moment  that  you  put 
foot  on  board  the  Alacrity  cutter ;  and  that  can 
easily  be  done,  as  she  lies  at  anchor  this  very  night, 
only  two  short  leagues  to  the  south  of  this,  in  a 
small  port,  where  she  is  riding  out  the  gale  as 
snugly  as  if  she  were  in  a  corner  of  this  room." 

One  of  the  men  affected  to  gaze  at  the  money 
with  longing  eyes,  while  he  asked,  as  if  weighing 
the  terms  of  the  engagement — 

"  Whether  the  Alacrity  was  called  a  good  sea- 
boat,  and  was  thought  to  give  a  comfortable  birth 
to  her  crew  ?" 

"  Comfortable  !"  echoed  Borroughcliffe  ;  "  for 
that  matter,  she  is  called  the  bravest  cutter  in  the 
navy.  You  have  seen  much  of  the  world,  I  dare 
say ;  did  you  ever  see  such  a  place  as  the  marine 
arsenal  at  Carthagena,  in  old  Spain  ?" 

"  Indeed  I  have,  sir,"  returned  the  seaman,  in  a 
cool,  collected  tone. 

"  Ah  !  you  have  !  well,  did  you  ever  meet  with 
a  house  in  Paris  that  they  call  the  Tuileries ? 
because  it's  a  dog-kennel  to  the  Alacrity." 

"  I  have  even  fallen  in  with  the  place  you  men- 


THE    PILOT  163 

tion,  sir,"  returned  the  sailor ;  "  and  must  own 
the  birth  quite  good  enough  for  such  as  I  am,  if  it 
tallies  with  your  description." 

"  The  deuce  take  these  blue-jackets,"  muttered 
Borroughcliffe,  addressing  himself  unconsciously 
to  Miss  Plowden,  near  whom  he  happened  to  be 
at  the  time ;  "  they  run  their  tarry  countenances 
into  all  the  corners  of  the  earth,  and  abridge  a 
man  most  lamentably  in  his  comparisons.  Now, 
who  the  devil  would  have  thought  that  fellow  had 
ever  put  his  sea-green  eyes  on  the  palace  of  King 
Louis!" 

Katherine  heeded  not  his  speech,  but  sat  eye 
ing  the  prisoners  with  a  confused  and  wavering  ex 
pression  of  countenance,  while  Colonel  Howard 
renewed  the  discourse,  by  exclaiming — 

"  Come,  come,  BorroughclifFe,  let  us  give  the 
lads  no  tales  for  a  recruit,  but  good,  plain,  honest 
English — God  bless  the  language,  and  the  land  for 
which  it  was  first  made,  too.  There  is  no  necessi 
ty  to  tell  these  men,  if  they  are,  what  they  seem 
*to  be,  practical  seamen,  that  a  cutter  of  ten  guns 
contains  all  the  room  and  accommodation  of  a  pa 
lace." 

"  Do  you  allow  nothing  for  English  oak  and 
English  comfort,  mine  host,"  said  the  immoveable 
captain ;  "do  you  think,  good  sir,  that  I  measure 
fitness  and  propriety  by  square  and  compass,  as  if 
I  were  planning  Solomon's  temple  anew  !  All  I 
mean  to  say  is,  that  the  Alacrity  is  a  vessel  of  sin 
gular  compactness  and  magical  arrangement  of 
room.  Like  the  tent  of  that  handsome  brother  of 
the  fairy,  in  the  Arabian  Nights,  she  is  big  or  she 
is  little,  as  occasion  needeth ;  and  now,  hang  me, 
if  I  don't  think  I  have  uttered  more  in  her  favour 
than  her  commander  would  say  to  help  me  to  a  re 
cruit,  though  no  lad  in  the  three  kingdoms  should 


164  THE    PILOT. 

appear  willing  to  try  how  a  scarlet  coat  would  suit 
his  boorish  figure." 

"  That  time  has  not  yet  arrived,  and  God  forbid 
that  it  ever  should,  while  the  monarch  needs  a  sol 
dier  in  the  field  to  protect  his  rights.  But  what 
say  ye,  my  men  ?  you  have  heard  the  recommenda 
tion  that  Captain  Borroughcliffe  has  given  of  the 
Alacrity,  which  is  altogether  true — after  making 
some  allowances  for  language.  Will  ye  serve  ? 
shall  I  order  you  a  cheering  glass  a  man,  and 
lay  by  the  gold,  till  I  hear  from  the  cutter  that 
you  are  enrolled  under  the  banners  of  the  best  of 
kings  f" 

Katherine  Plowden,  who  hardly  seemed  to 
breathe,  so  close  and  intent  was  the  interest  with 
which  she  regarded  the  seamen,  fancied  she  ob 
served  lurking  smiles  on  their  faces  ;  but  if  her 
conjectures  were  true,  their  disposition  to  be  mer 
ry  went  no  farther,  and  the  one  who  had  spoken 
hitherto,  replied,  in  the  same  calm  manner  as  be 
fore — 

"  You  will  excuse  us,  if  we  decline  shipping  in* 
the  cutter,  sir ;  we  are  used  to  distant  voyages  and 
large  vessels,  whereas  the  Alacrity  is  kept  at  coast 
duty,  and  is  not  of  a  size  to  lay  herself  alongside 
of  a  Don  or  a  Frenchman  with  a  double  row  of 
teeth." 

"  If  you  prefer  that  sort  of  sport,  you  must  to 
the  right-about  for  Yarmouth  ;  there  you  will  find 
ships  that  will  meet  any  thing  that  swims,"  said 
the  colonel. 

"  Perhaps  the  gentlemen  would  prefer  abandon 
ing  the  cares  and  dangers  of  the  ocean  for  a  life  of 
ease  and  gayety,"  said  the  captain.  "  The  hand 
that  has  long  dallied  with  a  marlinspike  may  be  ea 
sily  made  to  feel  a  trigger,  as  gracefully  as  a  lady 
touches  the  keys  of  her  piano.  Fn  short,  there  is 


THE    PILOT.  165 

and  there  is  not  a  great  resemblance  between  the 
life  of  a  sailor,  and  that  of  a  soldier.  There  are 
no  gales  of  wind,  nor  short-allowances,  nor  reefing 
topsails,  nor  shipwrecks,  among  soldiers — and  at 
the  same  time,  there  is  just  as  much,  or  even  more 
grog-drinking,  jollifying,  care-killing  fun  around  a 
canteen  and  an  open  knapsack,  than  there  is  on 
the  end  of  a  mess-chest,  with  a  full  can  and  a  Sa 
turday  night's  breeze.  I  have  crossed  the  ocean 
several  times,  and  I  must  own  that  a  ship,  in  good 
weather,  is  very  much  the  same  as  a  camp  or  com 
fortable  barracks ;  mind,  I  say  only  in  very  good 
weather." 

"  We  have  no  doubt  that  all  you  say  is  true, 
sir,"  observed  the  spokesman  of  the  three,  "  but 
what  to  you  may  seem  a  hardship,  to  us  is  plea 
sure.  We  have  faced  too  many  a  gale  to  mind  a 
cap-full  of  wind,  and  should  think  ourselves  always 
in  the  calm  latitudes,  in  one  of  your  barracks, 
where  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  to  eat  our  grub, 
and  to  march  a  little  fore  and  aft  a  small  piece  of 
green  earth.  We  hardly  know  one  end  of  a  mus 
ket  from  the  other." 

"  No  !"  said  Borroughcliffe,  musing ;  and  then 
advancing  with  a  quick  step  towards  them,  he 
cried,  in  a  spirited  manner — "  attention  !  right, 
dress  !" 

The  speaker,  and  the  seaman  next  him,  gazed 
at  the  captain  in  silent  wonder ;  but  the  third  in 
dividual  of  the  party,  who  had  drawn  himself  a  lit 
tle  aside,  as  if  willing  to  be  unnoticed,  or  perhaps 
pondering  on  his  condition,  involuntarily  started  at 
this  unexpected  order,  and  erecting  himself,  threw 
his  head  to  the  right  as  promptly  as  if  he  had  been 
on  a  parade  ground. 

u  Oho !  ye  are  apt  scholars,  gentlemen,  and  ye 
can  learn,  I  see,"  continued  Borroughcliffe.  "  1 


166  THE    PILOT. 

feel  it  to  be  proper  that  I  detain  these  men  till  to 
morrow  morning,  Colonel  Howard,  and  yet  I 
would  give  them  better  quarters  than  the  hard 
benches  of  the  guard-room." 

"  Act  your  pleasure,  Captain  Borroughcliffe," 
returned  the  host,  "  so  you  do  but  your  duty  to 
our  royal  master.  They  shall  not  want  for  cheer, 
and  they  can  have  a  room  over  the  servants'  of 
fices  in  the  south  side  of  the  Abbey." 

"  Three  rooms,  my  colonel,  three  rooms  must 
be  provided,  though  I  give  up  my  own." 

"  There  are  several  small  empty  apartments 
there,  where  blankets  might  be  taken,  and  the 
men  placed  for  safe  keeping,  if  you  deem  it  neces 
sary  ;  though,  to  me,  they  seem  like  good,  loyal 
tars,  whose  greatest  glory  it  would  be  to  serve 
their  prince,  and  whose  principal  pleasure  would 
consist  in  getting  alongside  of  a  Don  or  a  Mon 
sieur." 

"  We  shall  discuss  these  matters  anon,"  said 
Borroughcliffe,  dryly.  "  I  see  Miss  Plowden  be 
gins  to  look  grave  at  our  abusing  her  patience  so 
long,  and  I  know  that  cold  coffee  is,  like  withered 
love,  but  a  tasteless  sort  of  a  beverage.  Come, 
gentlemen,  en  avant !  you  have  seen  the  Tuileries, 
and  must  have  heard  a  little  French.  Mr.  Chris 
topher  Dillon,  know  you  where  these  three  small 
apartments  are  i  situate,  lying,  and  being,'  as  your 
parchments  read  ?" 

"  I  do,  sir,"  said  the  complying  lawyer,  "  and 
shall  take  much  pleasure  in  guiding  you  to  them. 
I  think  your  decision  that  of  a  prudent  and  saga 
cious  officer,  and  much  doubt  whether  Durham 
Castle,  or  some  other  fortress,  will  be  thought  too 
big  to  hold  them,  ere  long." 

As  this  speech  was  uttered  while  the  men  were 
passing  from  the  room*  its  effect  on  them  was  un- 


THE    PILOT.  167 

noticed ;  but  Katherine  Plowden,  who  was  left  for 
a  few  moments  by  herself,  sat  and  pondered  over 
what  she  had  seen  and  heard,  with  a  thoughtful- 
ness  of  manner  that  was  not  usual  to  her  gay  and 
buoyant  spirits.  The  sounds  of  the  retiring  foot 
steps,  however,  gradually  grew  fainter,  and  the  re 
turn  of  her  guardian  alone  recalled  the  recollection 
of  the  young  lady  to  the  duties  of  her  situation. 

While  engaged  in  the  little  offices  of  the  tea- 
table,  Katherine  threw  many  furtive  glances  at  the 
veteran ;  but,  although  he  seemed  to  be*  musing, 
there  was  nothing  austere  or  suspicious  in  his  frank, 
open  countenance. 

"  There  is  much  useless  trouble  taken  with 
these  wandering  seamen,  sir,"  said  Katherine,  at 
length  ;  "  it  seems  to  be  the  particular  province  of 
Mr.  Christopher  Dillon,  to  make  all  that  come  in 
contact  with  him  excessively  uncomfortable." 

"  And  what  has  Kit  to  do  with  the  detention  of 
the  men  ?" 

"  What !  why,  has  he  not  undertaken  to  stand 
godfather  to  their  prisons  ? — by  a  woman's  pa 
tience,  I  think,  Colonel  Howard,  this  business 
will  gain  a  pretty  addition  to  the  names  of  St. 
Ruth.  It  is  already  called  a  house,  an  abbey,  a 
place,  and  by  some  a  castle  ;  let  Mr.  Dillon  have 
his  way  for  a  month,  and  it  will  add  gaol  to  the 
number." 

"  Kit  is  not  so  happy  as  to  possess  the  favour 
of  Miss  Plowden  ;  but  still  Kit  is  a  worthy  fellow, 
and  a  good  fellow,  and  a  sensible  fellow,  ay  !  and 
what  is  of  more  value  than  all  these  put  togemer, 
Miss  Katherine,  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon  is  a  faith 
ful  and  loyal  subject  to  his  prince.  His  mother 
was  my  cousin-german,  madam,  and  I  cannot  say 
how  soon  I  may  call  him  my  nephew.  The  Dil 
lons  are  of  good  Irish  extraction,  and  I  believe  that 


168  THE    PILOT. 

even  Miss  Plowden  will  admit  that  the  Howards 
have  some  pretensions  to  a  name." 

"  Ah  !  it  is  those  very  things  called  names  that 
I  most  allude  to,"  said  Katherine,  quickly.  "  But 
an  hour  since,  you  were  indignant,  my  dear  guar 
dian,  because  you  suspected  that  I  insinuated  you 
ought  to  write  gaoler  behind  the  name  of  Howard, 
and  even  now  you  submit  to  have  the  office  palmed 
upon  you." 

"  You  forget,  Miss  Katherine  Plowden,  that  it 
is  the  pleasure  of  one  of  his  majesty's  officers  to 
detain  these  men." 

"  But  I  thought  that  the  glorious  British  con 
stitution,  which  you  so  often  mention,"  interrupted 
the  young  lady,  spiritedly,  "  gives  liberty  to  all 
who  touch  these  blessed  shores ;  you  know,  sir, 
that  out  of  twenty  blacks  that  you  brought  with 
you,  how  few  remain  ;  the  rest  having  fled  on  the 
wings  of  the  spirit  of  British  liberty  !" 

This  was  touching  a  festering  sore  in  the  colo 
nel's  feelings,  and  his  provoking  ward  well  knew 
the  effects  her  observation  was  likely  to  produce. 
Her  guardian  did  not  break  forth  in  a  violent  burst 
of  rage,  or  furnish  those  manifestations  of  his  ire 
that  he  was  wont  to  do  on  less  important  subjects, 
but  he  arose,  with  all  his  dignity  concentred  in  a 
look,  and,  after  making  a  violent  effort  to  restrain 
his  feelings  within  the  bounds  necessary  to  pre 
serve  the  decorum  of  his  exit,  he  ventured  a  reply. 

"  That  the  British  constitution  is  glorious,  ma 
dam,  is  most  true.  That  this  island  is  the  sole  re- 
fug^where  liberty  has  been  able  to  find  a  home, 
is  also  true.  The  tyranny  and  oppression  of  the 
Congress,  which  are  grinding  down  the  colonies 
to  the  powder  of  desolation  and  poverty,  are  not 
worthy  of  the  sacred  name.  Rebellion  pollutes 
all  that  it  touches,  madam.  Although  it  often 


THE    PILOT.  169 

commences  under  the  sanction  of  holy  liberty,  it 
ever  terminates  in  despotism.  The  annals  of  the 
world,  from  the  time  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
down  to  the  present  day,  abundantly  prove  it. 
There  was  that  Julius  Caesar — he  was  one  of  your 
people's  men,  and  he  ended  a  tyrant.  Oliver 
Cromwell  was  another — a  rebel,  a  demagogue,  and 
a  tyrant  The  gradations,  madam,  are  as  inevita 
ble  as  from  childhood  to  youth,  and  from  youth  to 
age.  As  for  the  little  affair  that  you  have  been 
pleased  to  mention,  of  the — of  the — of  my  private 
concerns,  I  can  only  say  that  the  affairs  of  nations 
are  not  to  be  judged  of  by  domestic  incidents,  any 
more  than  domestic  occurrences  are  to  be  judged 
of  by  national  polities,"  The  colonel,  like  many 
a  better  logician,  mistook  his  antithesis  for  argu 
ment,  and  paused  a  moment  to  admire  his  own  elo 
quence  ;  but  the  current  of  his  thoughts,  which  al 
ways  flowed  in  torrents  on  this  subject,  swept  him 
along  in  its  course,  and  he  continued — "  Yes,  ma 
dam,  here,  and  here  alone  is  true  liberty  to  be 
found.  With  this  solemn  asseveration,  which  is  not 
lightly  made,  but  which  is  the  result  of  sixty 
years'  experience,  I  leave  you,  Miss  Plowden ; 
let  it  be  a  subject  of  deep  reflection  with  you,  for 
I  too  well  understand  your  treacherous  feelings  not 
to  know  that  your  political  errors  encourage  your 
personal  foibles  ;  reflect,  for  your  own  sake,  if  you 
love  not  only  your  own  happiness,  but  your  re 
spectability  and  standing  in  the  world.  As  for  the 
black  hounds  that  you  spoke  of,  they  are  a  set  of 
rebellious,  mutinous,  ungrateful  rascals ;  and  if  ever 
I  meet  one  of  the  damned — " 

The  colonel  had  so  far  controlled  his  feelings, 
as  to  leave  the  presence  of  the  lady  before  he 
broke  out  into  the  bitter  invectives  we  have  re 
corded,  and   Katherine  stood  a  minute,  pressing 
15 


170  THE    PILOT. 

her  forefinger  on  her  lips,  listening  to  his  voice  as 
it  grumbled  along  the  gallery,  until  the  sounds  were 
finally  excluded  by  the  closing  of  a  distant  door. 
The  wilful  girl  then  shook  her  dark  locks,  and  a 
smile  of  arch  mischief,  blended  with  an  expression 
of  regret,  in  her  countenance,  as  she  spoke  to  her 
self,  while  with  hurried  hands  she  threw  her  tea- 
equipage  aside  in  a  confused  pile — 

"  It  was  perhaps  a  cruel  experiment,  but  it  has 
succeeded.  Though  prisoners  ourselves,  we  are 
at  least  left  free  for  the  remainder  of  this  night. 
These  mysterious  sailors  must  be  examined  more 
closely.  If  the  proud  eye  of  Edward  Griffith  was 
not  glaring  under  the  black  wig  of  one  of  them,  I 
am  no  judge  of  features ;  and  where  has  Master 
Barnstable  concealed  his  charming  visage  !  for  nei 
ther  of  the  others  could  be  he.  But  now  for  Ce 
cilia." 

Her  light  form  glided  from  the  room,  while  she 
was  yet  speaking,  and  flitting  along  the  dimly- 
lighted  passages,  it  disappeared  in  one  of  those 
turnings  that  led  to  the  more  secret  apartments  of 
the  abbey. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


"  How  !  Lucia,  would'st  thou  have  me  sink  away 
u  In  pleasing  dreams,  and  lose  myself  in  love — " 

Cato. 


THE  reader  must  not  imagine  that  the  world 
stood  still  during  the  occurrence  of  the  scenes  we 
have  related.  By  the  time  the  three  seamen  were 
placed  in  as  many  different  rooms,  and  a  sentinel 
was  stationed  in  the  gallery  common  to  them  all, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  keep  an  eye  on  his  whole 
charge  at  once,  the  hour  had  run  deep  into  the 
night.  Captain  Borroughcliffe  obeyed  a  summons 
from  the  colonel,  who  made  him  an  evasive  apolo 
gy  for  the  change  in  their  evening's  amusement, 
and  challenged  his  guest  to  a  renewal  of  the  attack 
on  the  Madeira.  This  was  too  grateful  a  theme 
to  be  lightly  discussed  by  the  captain,  and  the  ab 
bey  clock  had  given  forth  as  many  of  its  mournful 
remonstrances  as  the  division  of  the  hours  would 
permit,  before  they  separated.  In  the  mean  time, 
Mr.  Dillon  became  invisible ;  though  a  servant, 
when  questioned  by  the  host  on  the  subject,  an 
nounced,  that  cc  he  believed  Mr.  Christopher  had 

chosen  to  ride  over  to ,  to  be  in  readiness 

to  join  the  hunt,  on  the  morning,  with  the  dawn." 
While  the  gentlemen  were  thus  indulging  them 
selves  in  the  dining  parlour,  and  laughing  over 


172  THE    PILOT 

the  tales  of  other  times  and  hard  campaigns,  two 
very  different  scenes  occurred  in  other  parts  of  the 
building. 

When  the  quiet  of  the  abbey  was  only  inter 
rupted  by  the  howling  of  the  wind,  or  by  the 
loud  and  prolonged  laughs  which  echoed  through 
the  passages  from  the  joyous  pair,  who  were  thue 
comfortably  established  by  the  side  of  the  bottle, 
a  door  was  gently  opened  on  one  of  the  galleries 
of  the  "  cloisters,"  and  Katherine  Plowden  issued 
from  it,  wrapped  in  a  close  mantle,  and  holding  in 
her  hand  a  chamber  lamp,  which  threw  its  dim 
light  faintly  along  the  gloomy  walls  in  front,  leav 
ing  all  behind  her  obscured  in  darkness.  She  was, 
however,  soon  followed  by  two  other  female 
figures,  clad  in  the  same  manner,  and  provided 
with  similar  lights.  When  all  were  in  the  gallery, 
Katherine  drew  the  door  softly  to,  and  proceeded 
in  front  to  lead  the  way. 

"  Hist !"  said  the  low,  tremulous  voice  of  Ceci 
lia,  "  they  are  yet  up  in  the  other  parts  of  the 
house  ;  and  if  it  be  as  you  suspect,  our  visit  would 
betray  them,  and  prove  the  means  of  their  cer 
tain  destruction." 

"  Is  the  laugh  of  Colonel  Howard  in  his  cups  so 
singular  and  unknown  to  your  ear,  Cecilia,  that 
you  know  it  not?"  said  Katherine  with  a  little 
spirit ;  "  or  do  you  forget  that  on  such  occasions 
he  seldom  leaves  himself  ears  to  hear,  or  eyes  to 
see  with.  But  follow  me  ;  it  is  as  I  suspect — it  must 
be  as  I  suspect ;  and  unless  we  do  something  to 
rescue  them,  they  are  lost,  without  they  have  laid 
a  deeper  scheme  than  is  apparent." 

"  It  is  a  dangerous  road  ye  both  journey,"  add 
ed  the  placid  tones  of  Alice  Dunscombe  ;  "  but 
ye  are  young,  and  ye  are  credulous." 


THE    PILOT.  173 

"  If  you  disapprove  of  our  visit,"  said  Cecilia, 
"  it  cannot  be  right,  and  we  had  better  return." 

"  No,  no,  I  have  said  naught  to  disapprove  of 
your  present  errand.  If  God  has  put  the  lives  of 
those  in  your  custody  whom  ye  have  taught  your 
selves  to  look  up  to  with  love  and  reverence,  such 
as  woman  is  bound  to  yield  to  one  man,  he  has 
done  it  for  no  idle  purpose.  Lead  us  to  their 
doors,  Katherine ;  let  us  relieve  our  doubts,  at 
least." 

The  ardent  girl  did  not  wait  for  a  second  bid 
ding,  but  she  led  them,  with  light  and  quick  steps, 
along  the  gallery,  until  they  reached  its  termina 
tion,  where  they  descended  to  the  basement  floor 
by  a  flight  of  narrow  steps,  and  carefully  opening 
a  small  door,  emerged  into  the  open  air.  They 
now  stood  on  a  small  plat  of  grass,  which  lay  be 
tween  the  building  and  the  ornamental  garden, 
across  which  they  moved  rapidly,  concealing  theii 
lights,  and  bending  their  shrinking  forms  before 
the  shivering  blasts  that  poured  their  fury  upon 
them  from  the  ocean.  They  soon  reached  a  large 
but  rough  addition  to  the  buildings,  that  concealed 
its  plain  architecture  behind  the  more  laboured 
and  highly  finished  parts  of  the  edifice,  into  which 
they  entered  through  a  massive  door  that  stood 
ajar,  as  if  to  admit  them. 

"  Chloe  has  been  true  to  my  orders,"  whisper 
ed  Katherine,  as  they  passed  out  of  the  chilling 
air ;  "  now,  if  all  the  servants  are  asleep,  our 
chance  to  escape  unnoticed  amounts  to  certainty." 

It  became  necessary  to  go  through  the  servant's 
hall,  which  they  effected  unobserved,  as  it  had  but 
one  occupant, 'an  aged  black  man,  who,  being  post 
ed  with  his  ear  within  two  feet  of  a  bell,  in  this  at 
titude  had  committed  himself  to  a  deep  sleep. 
Gliding  through  this  hall,  they  entered  divers  long 
15* 


174  THE    PILOT. 

and  intricate  passages,  all  of  which  seemed  as  fa 
miliar  to  Katherine  as  they  were  unknown  to  her 
companions,  until  they  reached  another  flight  of 
steps,  which  they  ascended.  They  were  now  near 
their  goal,  and  stopped  to  examine  whether  any  or 
what  difficulties  were  likely  to  be  opposed  to  their 
further  progress. 

"  Now,  indeed,  our  case  seems  hopeless,"  whis 
pered  Katherine,  as  they  stood,  concealed  by  the 
darkness,  in  one  end  of  an  extremely  long,  nar 
row  passage  ;  "  here  is  the  sentinel  in  the  build 
ing,  instead  of  being  as  I  had  supposed,  under  the 
windows  ;  what  is  to  be  done  now  ?" 

"  Let  us  return,"  said  Cecilia,  in  the  same  man 
ner  ;  "  my  influence  with  my  uncle  is  great,  even 
though  he  seems  unkind  to  us  at  times.  In  the 
morning  I  will  use  it  to  persuade  him  to  free  them, 
on  receiving  their  promise  to  abandon  all  such  at 
tempts  in  future." 

"  In  the  morning  it  will  be  too  late,"  returned 
Katherine ;  "  I  saw  that  demon,  Kit  Dillon,  mount 
his  horse,  under  the  pretence  of  riding  to  the  great 
hunt  of  to-morrow,  but  I  know  his  malicious  eye 
too  well  to  be  deceived  in  his  errand.  He  is  silent 
that  he  may  be  sure,  and  if  to-morrow  comes,  and 
finds  Griffith  within  these  walls,  he  will  be  con 
demned  to  a  scaffold." 

"  Say  no  more,"  said  Alice  Dunscombe,  with 
singular  emotion  ;  "  some  lucky  circumstance  may 
aid  us  with  this  sentinel." 

As  she  spoke,  she  advanced  ;  they  had  not  pro 
ceeded  far,  before  the  stern  voice  of  the  soldier 
challenged  the  party. 

"  'Tis  no  time  to  hesitate,"  whispered  Kathe 
rine  ;  "  we  are  the  ladies  of  the  abbey,  looking 
to  our  domestic  affairs,"  she  continued,  aloud,  "and 
think  it  a  little  remarkable  that  we  are  to  encoun 


THE    PILOT.  175 

ter  armed  men,  while  going  through  our  own 
dwelling." 

The  soldier  respectfully  presented  his  musket, 
and  replied — 

a  My  orders  are  to  guard  the  doors  of  these 
three  rooms,  ladies ;  we  have  prisoners  in  them, 
and  as  for  any  thing  else  my  duty  will  be  to  serve 
you  all  in  my  power." 

"  Prisoners  !"  exclaimed  Katherine,  in  affected 
surprise  ;  "  does  Captain  Borroughcliffe  make  St. 
Ruth's  Abbey  a  gaol !  Of  what  offences  are  the 
poor  men  guilty  ?" 

"  I  know  not,  my  lady ;  but  as  they  are  sailors, 
I  suppose  they  have  run  from  his  majesty's  ser 
vice." 

"  This  is  singular,  truly  !  and  why  are  they  not 
sent  to  the  county  prison  ?" 

"  This  must  be  examined  into,"  said  Cecilia, 
dropping  the  mantle  from  before  her  face.  "  As 
mistress  of  this  house,  I  claim  a  right  to  know 
whom  its  Avails  contain ;  you  will  oblige  me  by 
opening  the  doors,  for  I  see  you  have  the  keys  sus 
pended  from  your  belt." 

The  sentinel  hesitated.  He  was  greatly  awed 
by  the  presence  and  beauty  of  the  speakers,  but 
a  still  voice  reminded  him  of  his  duty.  A  lucky 
thought,  however,  interposed  to  relieve  him  from 
his  dilemma,  and  at  the  same  time  to  comply  with 
the  request,  or,  rather,  order  of  the  lady.  As  he 
handed  her  the  keys,  he  said — 

"  Here  they  are,  my  lady ;  my  orders  are  to 
keep  the  prisoners  in,  not  to  keep  any  one  out. 
When  you  are  done  with  them,  you  will  please  to 
return  them  to  me,  if  it  be  only  to  save  a  poor  fel 
low's  eyes,  for  unless  the  door  is  kept  locked,  I 
shall  not  dare  to  look  about  me  for  a  moment." 

Cecilia  promised  to  return  the  keys,  and  she 


176  THE    PILOT. 

had  applied  one  of  them  to  a  lock  with  a  trembling 
hand,  when  Alice  Dunscombe  arrested  her  arm, 
and  addressed  the  soldier. 

"  Say  you  there  are  three  ?  are  they  men  in. 
years  ?" 

"  No,  my  lady,  all  good,  serviceable  lads,  who 
couldn't  do  better  than  to  serve  his  majesty,  or, 
as  it  may  prove,  worse  than  to  run  from  their  co 
lours." 

"  But  are  their  years  and  appearance  similar  ?• 
I  ask,  for  I  have  a  friend  who  has  been  guilty  of 
some  boyish  tricks,  and  has  tried  the  seas,  I  hear,, 
among  other  foolish  hazards." 

"  There  is  no  boy  here.  In  the  far  room  on- 
the  left  is  a  smart,  soldier-looking  chap,  of  about 
thirty,  who  the  captain  thinks  has  carried  a  mus 
ket  before  now ;  on  him  I  am  charged  ta  keep  a 
particular  eye.  Next  to  him  is  as  pretty  a  look 
ing  youth  as  eyes  could  wish  to  see,  and  it  makes 
one  feel  mournful  to  think  what  he  must  come  to, 
if  he  has  really  deserted  his  ship.  In  the  room 
near  you,  is  a  smaller,  quiet  little  body,  who- 
might  make  a  better  preacher  than  a  sailor  or  a 
soldier  either,  he  has  such  a  gentle  way  with 
him." 

Alice  covered  her  eyes  with  her  hand  a  moment, 
and  then  recovering  herself,  proceeded — 

"  Gentleness  may  do  more  with  the  unfortunate 
men  than  fear  ;  here  is  a  guinea  ;  withdraw  to  the 
far  end  of  the  passage,  where  you  can  watch  them 
as  well  as  here,  while  we  enter,  and  endeavour 
to  make  them  confess  who  and  what  they  really 
are." 

The  soldier  took  the  money,  and  after  looking 
about  him  in  a  little  uncertainty,  he  at  length  com 
plied,  as  it  was  obviously  true  they  could  only 
escape  by  passing  him,  near  the  flight  of  steps. 


THE    PILOT.  177 

When  he  was  beyond  hearing,  Alice  Dunscoinbe 
turned  to  her  companions,  and  a  slight  glow  ap 
peared  in  feverish  spots  on  her  cheeks,  as  she  ad 
dressed  them. 

"  It  would  be  idle  to  attempt  to  hide  from  you, 
that  I  expect  to  meet  the  individual  whose  voice 
I  must  have  heard  in  reality  to-night,  instead  of 
only  imaginary  sounds,  as  I  vainly,  if  not  wickedly 
supposed.  I  have  many  reasons  for  changing  my 
opinion,  the  chief  of  which  is  that  he  is  leagued 
with  the  rebellious  Americans  in  this  unnatural 
war.  Nay,  chide  me  not,  Miss  Plowden ;  you  will 
remember  that  I  found  my  being  on  this  island.  I 
come  here  on  no  vain  or  weak  errand,  Miss  How 
ard,  but  to  spare  human  blood."  She  paused,  as 
if  struggling  to  speak  calmly.  "  But  no  one  can 
witness  the  interview  except  our  God." 

"  Go,  then,"  said  Katherine,  secretly  rejoicing 
at  her  determination,  "  while  we  inquire  into  the 
characters  of  the  others." 

Alice  Dunscombe  turned  the  key,  and  gently 
opening  the  door,  she  desired  her  companions  to 
tap  for  her,  as  they  returned,  and  then  instantly 
disappeared  in  the  apartment. 

Cecilia  and  her  cousin  proceeded  to  the  next 
door,  which  they  opened  in  silence,  and  entered 
cautiously  into  the  room. 

Katherine  Plowden  had  so  far  examined  into 
the  arrangements  of  Colonel  Howard,  as  to  know 
that  at  the  same  time  he  had  ordered  blankets  to 
be  provided  for  the  prisoners,  he  had  not  thought 
it  necessary  to  administer  any  further  to  the  ac 
commodations  of  men  who  had  apparently  made 
their  beds  and  pillows  of  planks  for  the  greater 
part  of  their  lives. 

The  ladies  accordingly  found  the  youthful  sailor 
whom  thej  sought,  with  his  body  rolled  in  the 


178  THE    PILOT. 

shaggy  covering,  extended  at  his  length  along  the 
naked  boards,  and  buried  in  a  deep  sleep.  So 
timed  were  the  steps  of  his  visiters,  and  so  noise 
less  was  their  entrance,  that  they  approached  even 
to  his  side,  without  disturbing  his  slumbers.  The 
head  of  the  prisoner  lay  rudely  pillowed  on  a  bil 
let  of  wood,  one  hand  protecting  his  face  from  its 
rough  surface,  and  the  other  thrust  into  his  bosom, 
where  it  rested,  with  a  relaxed  grasp,  on  the  han 
dle  of  a  dirk.  Although  he  slept,  and  that  heavily, 
yet  his  rest  was  unnatural  and  perturbed.  His 
breathing  was  hard  and  quick,  and  something  like 
the  low,  rapid  murmurings  of  a  confused  utterance 
mingled  with  his  respiration.  The  moment  had 
now  arrived  when  the  character  of  Cecilia  Howard 
appeared  to  undergo  an  entire  change.  Hitherto 
she  had  been  led  by  her  cousin,  whose  activity  and 
enterprise  seemed  to  qualify  her  so  well  for  the 
office  of  guide  ;  but  now  she  advanced  before  Ka- 
therine,  and,  extending  her  lamp  in  such  a  man 
ner  as  to  throw  the  light  across  the  face  of  the 
sleeper,  she  bent  to  examine  his  countenance,  with 
keen  and  anxious  eyes. 

"  Am  I  right  ?"  whispered  her  cousin. 

"  May  God,  in  his  infinite  compassion,  pity  and 
protect  him  !"  murmured  Cecilia,  her  whole  frame 
involuntarily  shuddering,  as  the  conviction  thatfrshe 
beheld  Griffith  flashed  across  her  mind.  "  Yes, 
Katherine,  it  is  he,  and  presumptuous  madness  has 
driven  him  here.  But  time  presses  ;  he  must  be 
awakened,  and  his  escape  effected  at  every  ha 
zard." 

"  Nay,  then,  delay  no  longer,  but  rouse  him 
from  his  sleep." 

"  Griffith  !  Edward  Griffith  !"  said  the  soft  tones 
of  Cecilia,  "  Griffith,  awake  !" 

"  Your  call  is  useless,  for  they    sleep   nightty 


THE    PILOT.  179 

among  tempests  and  boisterous  sounds,"  said  Ka- 
therine  ;  "  but  I  have  heard  it  said  that  the  small 
est  touch  will  generally  cause  one  of  them  to  stir." 

"  Griffith  !"  repeated  Cecilia,  laying  her  fair 
hand  timidly  on  his  own. 

The  flash  of  the  lightning  is  not  more  nimble 
than  the  leap  that  the  young  man  made  to  his  feet, 
which  he  no  sooner  gained,  than  his  dirk  gleamed 
in  the  light  of  the  lamps,  as  he  brandished  it  fierce 
ly  with  one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he  extended 
a  pistol,  in  a  menacing  attitude,  towards  his  dis 
turbers. 

u  Stand  back  !"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  I  am  your 
prisoner  only  as  a  corpse  !" 

The  fierceness  of  his  front,  and  the  glaring  eye 
balls,  that  rolled  wildly  around  him,  appalled  Ce 
cilia,  who  shrunk  back  in  fear,  dropping  her  man 
tle  from  her  person,  but  still  keeping  her  mild  eyes 
fastened  on  his  countenance  with  a  confiding  gaze, 
that  contradicted  her  shrinking  attitude,  as  she  re 
plied — 

u  Edward,  it  is  I ;  Cecilia  Howard,  come  to 
save  you  from  'destruction  ;  you  are  known  even 
through  your  ingenious  disguise." 

The  pistol  and  the  dirk  fell  together  on  the 
blanket  of  the  young  sailor,  whose  looks  instantly 
lost  their  disturbed  expression  in  a  glow  of  pleasure. 

<l  Fortune  at  length  favours  me  !"  he  cried. 
"  This  is  kind,  Cecilia ;  more  than  I  deserve,  and 
much  more  than  I  expected.  But  you  are  not 
alone." 

"  'Tis  my  cousin  Kate ;  to  her  piercing  eyes 
you  owe  your  detection,  and  she  has  kindly  con 
sented  to  accompany  me,  that  we  might  urge  you 
to — nay,  that  we  might,  if  necessary,  assist  you 
to  fly.  For  'tis  cruel  folly,  Griffith,  thus  to  tempt 
your  fate." 


180  THE    PILOT. 

"  Have  I  tempted  it,  then,  in  vain  !  Miss  Plow 
den,  to  you  I  must  appeal  for  an  answer  and  a  jus- 
tification." 

Katherine  looked  displeased,  but  after  a  mo 
ment's  hesitation,  she  replied — 

"  Your  servant,  Mr.  Griffith ;  I  perceive  that 
the  erudite  Captain  Barnstable  has  not  only  suc 
ceeded  in  spelling  through  my  scrawl,  but  he  has- 
also  given  it  to  all  hands  for  perusal." 

"  Now  you  do  both  him  and  me  injustice,"  said 
Griffith  ;  "  it  surely  was  not  treachery  to  show  me 
a  plan,  in  which  I  was  to  be  a  principal  actor." 

"  Ah !  doubtless  your  excuses  are  as  obedient 
to  your  calls,  as  your  men,"  returned  the  young 
lady ;  "  but  how  comes  it  that  the  hero  of  the 
Ariel  sends  a  deputy  to  perform  a  duty  that  is  so 
peculiarly  his  own  ?  is  he  wont  to  be  second  in 
rescues  ?" 

"  Heaven  forbid  that  you  should  think  so  mean 
ly  of  him,  for  a  moment !  We  owe  you  much, 
Miss  Plowden,  but  we  may  have  other  duties. 
You  know  that  we  serve  our  common  country, 
and  have  a  superior  with  us,  whose  beck  is  our 
law." 

"  Return,  then,  Mr.  Griffith,  while  you  may, 
to  the  service  of  our  bleeding  country,"  said  Ce 
cilia,  "  and,  after  the  joint  efforts  of  her  brave 
children  have  expelled  the  intruders  from  her 
soil,  let  us  hope  there  shall  come  a  time  whei* 
Katherine  and  myself  may  be  restored  to  our  na 
tive  homes." 

"  Think  you,  Miss  Howard,  to  how  long  a  pe 
riod  the  mighty  arm  of  the  British  king  may  ex 
tend  that  time  ?  We  shall  prevail ;  a  nation  fight 
ing  for  its  dearest  rights  must  ever  prevail ;  but 
'tis  not  the  work  of  a  day,  for  a  people,  poor,  scat* 
tered,  and  impoverished  as  we  have  been,  to  beai 


THE    PILOT.  181 

down  a  power  like  that  of  England  ;  surely  you 
forget  that  in  bidding  me  to  leave  you  with  such 
expectations,  Miss  Howard,  you  doom  me  to  an 
almost  hopeless  banishment !" 

"  We  must  trust  to  the  will  of  God,"  said  Ceci 
lia  ;  "  if  he  ordain  that  America  is  to  be  free  only 
after  protracted  sufferings,  I  can  aid  her  but  with 
my  prayers ;  but  you  have  an  arm  and  an  expe 
rience,  Griffith,  that  might  do  her  better  service ; 
waste  not  your  usefulness,  then,  in  visionary 
schemes  for  private  happiness,  but  seize  the  mo 
ments  as  they  offer,  and  return  to  your  ship,  if  in 
deed  it  is  yet  in  safety,  and  endeavour  to  forget 
this  mad  undertaking,  and,  for  a  time,  the  being 
who  has  led  you  to  the  adventure." 

"  This  is  a  reception  that  I  had  not  anticipated," 
returned  Griffith  ;  "  for  though  accident,  and  not 
intention,  has  thrown  me  into  your  presence  this 
evening,  I  did  hope  that  when  I  again  saw  the  fri 
gate,  it  would  be  in  your  company,  Cecilia." 

"  You  cannot  justly  reproach  me,  Mr.  Griffith, 
with  your  disappointment,  for  I  have  not  uttered 
or  authorized  a  syllable  that  could  induce  you  or 
any  one  to  believe  that  I  would  consent  to  quit  my 
uncle." 

"  Miss  Howard  will  not  think  me  presumptuous, 
if  I  remind  her  that  there  was  a  time  when  she  did 
not  think  me  unworthy  to  be  intrusted  with  her 
person  and  happiness." 

A  rich  bloom  mantled  on  the  face  of  Cecilia,  as 
she  replied — 

"  Nor  do  I  now,  Mr.  Griffith  ;  but  you  do  well 
to  remind  me  of  my  former  weakness,  for  the  re 
collection  of  its  folly  and  imprudence  only  adds  to 
my  present  strength." 

"Nay,"  interrupted  her  eager  lover, "  if  I  intend 
ed  a  reoroach,  or  harboured  a  boastful    thought 
16 


182  THE    PILOT. 

spurn  me  from  you  for  ever,  as  unworthy  of  your 
favour." 

"  I  acquit  you  of  both  much  easier  than  I  can 
acquit  myself  of  the  charge  of  weakness  and  folly," 
continued  Cecilia ;  "  but  there  are  many  things 
that  have  occurred,  since  we  last  met,  to  prevent 
a  repetition  of  such  inconsiderate  rashness  on  my 
part.  One  of  them  is,"  she  added,  smiling  sweetly, 
4C  that  I  have  numbered  twelve  additional  months 
to  my  age,  and  a  hundred  to  my  experience.  An 
other,  and  perhaps  a  more  important  one,  is,  that 
my  uncle  then  continued  among  the  friends  of  his 
youth,  surrounded  by  those  whose  blood  mingles 
with  his  own ;  but  here  he  lives  a  stranger,  and, 
though  he  finds  some  consolation  In  dwelling  in  a 
building  where  his  ancestors  have  dwelt  before 
him,  yet  he  walks  as  an  alien  through  its  gloomy 
passages,  and  would  find  the  empty  honour  but  a  mi 
serable  compensation  for  the  kindness  and  affection 
of  one  whom  he  has  loved  and  cherished  from  her 
infancy." 

"  And  yet  he  is  opposed  to  you  in  your  private 
wishes,  Cecilia,  unless  my  besotted  vanity  has  led 
me  to  believe  what  it  would  now  be  madness  to  learn 
was  false ;  and  in  your  opinions  of  public  things, 
you  are  quite  as  widely  separated.  I  should  think 
there  could  be  but  little  happiness  dependant  on  a 
connexion  where  there  is  no  one  feeling  entertain 
ed  in  common." 

"  There  is,  and  an  all-important  one,"  said  Miss 
Howard  ;  "  'tis  our  love.  He  is  my  kind,  my  af 
fectionate,  and,  unless  thwarted  by  some  evil  cause, 
my  indulgent  uncle  and  guardian — and  I  am  his 
brother  Harry's  child.  This  tie  is  not  easily  to  be 
severed,  Mr.  Griffith,  though,  as  I  do  not  wish  to 
see  you  crazed,  I  shall  not  add  that  your  besotted 
vanity  has  played  you  false  ;  but,  surely,  Edward, 


THE    PILOT.  183 

t  is  possible  to  feel  a  double  tie,  and  so  to  act  as 
to  discharge  our  duties  to  both.  I  never,  never 
can  or  will  consent  to  desert  my  uncle,  a  stranger 
as  he  is  in  the  land  whose  rule  he  upholds  so  blind 
ly.  You  know  not  this  England,  Griffith  ;  she  re 
ceives  her  children  from  the  colonies  with  cold 
and  haughty  distrust,  like  a  jealous  step-mother, 
who  is  wary  of  the  favours  that  she  bestows  on  her 
fictitious  offspring." 

"  I  know-her  in  peace,  and  I  know  her  in  war," 
said  the  young  sailor,  proudly,  "  and  can  add,  that 
she  is  a  haughty  friend,  and  a  stubborn  foe  ;  but 
sh^grapples  now  with  those  who  ask  no  more  of 
her  than  an  open  sea,  and  an  enemy's  favours.  But 
this  determination  will  be  melancholy  tidings  for 
me  to  convey  to  Barnstable." 

"  Nay,"  said  Cecilia,  smiling,  "  I  cannot  vouch 
for  others,  who  have  no  uncles,  and  who  have  an 
extra  quantity  of  ill  humour  and  spleen  against 
this  country,  its. people,  and  its  laws,  although  pro 
foundly  ignorant  of  them  all." 

:c  Is  Miss  Howard  tired  of  seeing  me  under  the 
tiles  of  St.  Ruth  ?"  asked  Katherine.  "  But  hark  ! 
are  there  not  footsteps  approaching  along  the  gal 
lery?" 

They  listened,  in  breathless  silence,  and  soon 
heard  distinctly  the  approaching  tread  of  more 
than  one  person.  Voices  were  quite  audible,  and 
before  they  had  time  to  consult  on  what  was  best 
to  be  done,  the  words  of  the  speakers  were  dis 
tinctly  heard  at  the  door  of  their  own  apartment. 

''  Ay  !  he  has  a  military  air  about  him,  Peters, 
tfiat  will  make  him  a  prize  ;  come,  open  the  door.'1 

"  This  is  not  his  room,  your  honour,"  said  the 
alarmed  soldier  ;  "  he  quarters  in  the  last  room  in 
the  gallery." 

"  How  know  you  that,  fellow  ?  come,  produce 


184  THE    PILOT. 

the  key,  and  open  the  way  for  me  ;  I  care  not  who 
sleeps  here ;  there  is  no  saying  but  I  may  enlist 
them  all  three." 

A  single  moment  of  dreadful  incertitude  suc 
ceeded,  when  the  sentinel  was  heard  saying,  in 
reply  to  this  peremptory  order — 

"  I  thought  your  honour  wanted  to  see  the  one 
with  the  black  stock,  and  so  left  the  rest  of  the 
keys  at  the  other  end  of  the  passage  ;  but — " 

"  But  nothing,  you  loon ;  a  sentinel,  should  al 
ways  carry  his  keys  about  him,  like  a  gaoler  ;  fol 
low,  then,  and  let  me  see  the  lad  who  dresses  so 
well  to  the  right."  * 

As  the  heart  of  Katherine  began  to  beat  less  ve 
hemently,  she  said — 

"  'Tis  Borroughcliffe,  and  too  drunk  to  see  that 
we  have  left  the  key  in  the  door ;  but  what  is  to 
be  done  ?  we  have  but  a  moment  for  consultation." 

"  As  the  day  dawns,"  said  Cecilia,  quickly,  "  I 
shall  send  here,  under  the  pretence  of  conveying 
you  food,  my  own  woman — " 

"  There  is  no  need  of  risking  any  thing  for  my 
safety,"  interrupted  Griffith ;  "  I  hardly  think  we 
shall  be  detained,  and  if  we  are,  Barnstable  is  at 
hand  with  a  force  that  would  scatter  these  recruits 
to  the  four  winds  of  heaven." 

"  Ah  !  that  would  lead  to  bloodshed,  and  scenes 
of  horror  !"  exclaimed  Cecilia. 

"  Listen !"  cried  Katherine,  "  they  approach 
again  !" 

A  man  now  stopped,  once  more,  at  their  door, 
which  was  opened  softly,  and  the  face  of  the  senti 
nel  was  thrust  into  the  apartment. 

"  Captain  Borroughcliffe  is  on  his  rounds,  and 
for  fifty  of  your  guineas  I  would  not  leave  you 
here  another  minute." 

"  But  one  word  more,"  said  Cecilia. 


THE    PILOT.  185 

"  Not  a  syllable,  my  lady,  for  my  life,"  return 
ed  the  man  ;  "  the  lady  from  the  next  room  waits 
for  you,  and  in  mercy  to  a  poor  fellow,  go  back 
where  you  came  from." 

The  appeal  was  unanswerable,  and  they  com 
plied,  Cecilia  saying,  as  they  left  the  room — 

"  I  shall  send  you  food  in  the  morning,  young 
man,  and  directions  how  to  take  the  remedy  ne 
cessary  to  your  safety." 

In  the  passage  they  found  Alice  Dunscombe, 
with  her  face  concealed  in  her  mantle,  and,  it 
would  seem,  by  the  heavy  sighs  that  escaped  from 
her,  deeply  agitated  by  the  interview  which  she 
had  just  encountered. 

But  as  the  reader  may  have  some  curiosity  to 
know  what  occurred  to  distress  this  unoffending 
lady  so  sensibly,  we  shall  detain  the  narrative,  to 
relate  the  substance  of  that  which  passed  between 
her  and  the  individual  whom  she  sought. 
16* 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


M  As  when  a  lion  in  his  den 
"  Hath  heard  the  hunters'  criea, 
*  And  rushes  forth  to  meet  his  foes, 
"  So  did  the  Douglass  rise—" 

Percy 


ALICE  DUNSCOMBE  did  not  find  the  second  of 
the  prisoners  buried,  like  Griffith,  in  sleep,  but  he 
was  seated  on  one  of  the  old  chairs  that  were  in 
the  apartment,  with  his  back  to  the  door,  and  ap 
parently  looking  through  the  small  window,  on 
the  dark  and  dreary  scenery  over  which  the  tem 
pest  was  yet  sweeping  in  its  fury.  Her  approach 
was  unheeded,  until  the  light  from  her  lamp  glared 
across  his  eyes,  when  he  started  Horn  his  musing 
posture,  and  advanced  to  meet  her.  He  was  the 
first  to  speak. 

"  I  expected  this  visit,"  he  said,  "when  I  found 
that  you  recognised  my  voice,  and  I  felt  a  deep 
assurance  in  my  breast,  that  Alice  Dunscombe 
would  never  betray  me." 

His  listener,  though  expecting  this  confirmation 
of  her  conjectures,  was  unable  to  make  an  imme 
diate  reply,  but  she  sunk  into  the  seat  he  had  aban 
doned,  and  waited  a  few  moments,  as  if  to  recover 
her  powers. 

"  It  was,  then,  no  mysterious  warning  !  no  airy 
voice  that  mocked  my  ear  ;  but  a  dread  reality  !" 
she  at  length  said,  "  Why  have  you  thus  braved 


THE    PILOT.  187 

the  indignation  of  the  laws  of  your  country  ?  on 
what  errand  of  fell  mischief  has  your  ruthless  tem 
per  again  urged  you  to  embark  ?" 

"  This  is  strong  and  cruel  language,  coming 
from  you  to  me,  Alice  Dunscombe,"  returned  the 
stranger,  with  cool  asperity ;  *'  and  the  time  has 
been,  when  I  should  have  been  greeted,  after  a 
shorter  absence,  with  milder  terms." 

"  I  deny  it  not ;  I  cannot,  if  I  would,  conceal 
my  infirmity  from  myself  or  you  ;  I  hardly  wish 
it  to  continue  unknown  to  the  world.  If  I  have 
once  esteemed  you — if  I  have  plighted  to  you  my 
troth,  and,  in  my  confiding  folly,  forgot  my  higher 
duties,  God  has  amply  punished  me  for  the  weak 
ness,  in  your  own  evil  deeds." 

"  Nay,  let  not  our  meeting  be  embittered  with 
useless  and  provoking  recriminations,"  said  the 
other  ;  ."  for  we  have  much  to  say  before  you  com 
municate  the  errand  of  mercy  on  which  you  have 
come  hither.  I  know  you  too  well,  Alice,  not  to 
see  that  you  perceive  the  peril  in  which  I  am 
placed,  and  am  willing  to  venture  something  for  my 
safety.  Your  mother — does  she  yet  live  ?" 

"  She  is  gone  in  quest  of  my  blessed  father," 
said  Alice,  covering  her  pale  face  with  her  hands ; 
"  they  have  left  me  alone,  truly,  for  he  who  was 
to  have  been  all  to  me,  was  first  false  to  his  faith, 
and  has  since  become  unworthy  of  my  confidence." 

The  stranger  became  singularly  agitated,  his 
usually  quiet  eye  glancing  hastily  from  the  floor 
to  the  countenance  of  his  companion,  as  he  paced 
the  room  with  hurried  steps ;  at  length  he  re 
plied — 

"  There  is  much,  perhaps,  to  be  said  in  expla 
nation,  that  you  do  not  know.  I  left  the  country, 
because  I  found  in  it  nothing  but  oppression  and 
injustice,  and  I  could  not  invite  you  to  become  the 


188  THE    PILOT. 

bride  of  a  wanderer,  without  either  name  or  for 
tune.  But  I  have  now  the  opportunity  of  proving 
my  truth.  You  say  you  are  alone  ;  be  so  no 
longer,  and  try  how  far  you  were  mistaken  in  be 
lieving  that  I  should  one  day  supply  the  place  to 
you  of  both  father  and  mother." 

There  is  something  soothing  to  a  female  ear  in 
the  offer  of  even  protracted  justice,  and  Alice 
spoke  with  less  of  acrimony  in  her  tones,  during 
the  remainder  of  their  conference,  if  not  with  less 
of  severity  in  her  language. 

"  You  talk  not  like  a  man  whose  very  life  hangs 
but  on  a  thread  that  the  next  minute  may  snap 
asunder.  Whither  would  you  lead  me  ?  is  it  to 
the  tower  at  London  ?" 

"  Think  not  I  have  weakly  exposed  my  person 
without  a  sufficient  protection,"  returned  the  stran 
ger,  with  cool  indifference  ;  "  there  are  many  gal 
lant  men  who  only  wait  my  signal,  to  crush  the 
paltry  force  of  this  officer  like  a  worm  beneath  my 
feet." 

"  Then  has  the  conjecture  of  Colonel  Howard 
been  true  !  and  the  manner  in  which  the  enemy's 
vessels  have  passed  the  shoals  is  no  longer  a  mys 
tery  !  you  have  been  their  pilot !" 

"  I  have." 

"  What  !  would  ye  pervert  the  knowledge 
gained  in  the  spring-time  of  your  guileless  youth 
to  the  foul  purpose  of  bringing  desolation  to  the 
doors  of  those  you  once  knew  and  respected  ! 
John !  John !  is  the  image  of  the  maiden  whom 
in  her  morning  of  beauty  and  simplicity  I  believe 
you  did  love,  so  faintly  impressed,  that  it  cannot 
soften  your  hard  heart  to  the  misery  of  those  among 
whom  she  has  been  born,  and  who  compose  her 
little  world  ?" 

"  Not  a  hair  of  theirs  shall  be  touched,  not  a 


THE    PILOT.  189 

thatch  shall  blaze,  nor  shall  a  sleepless  night  befall 
the  vilest  among  them — and  all  for  your  sake. 
Alice !  England  comes  to  this  contest  with  a 
seared  conscience,  and  bloody  hands,  but  all  shall 
be  forgotten  for  the  present,  when  both  opportu 
nity  and  power  offer  to  make  her  feel  our  ven 
geance,  even  in  her  vitals.  I  came  on  no  such  er- 
•<and." 

"  What,  then,  has  led  you  blindly  into  snares, 
where  all  your  boasted  aid  would  avail  you  no 
thing  ;  for,  should  I  call  aloud  your  name,  even 
here,  in  the  dark  and  dreary  passages  of  this  ob  • 
scure  jedifice,  the  cry  would  echo  through  the 
country  ere  the  morning,  and  a  whole  people 
would  be  found  in  arms  to  punish  your  audacity." 

"  My  name  has  been  sounded,  and  that  in  no 
gentle  strains,"  returned  the  pilot,  scornfully, 
"  when  a  whole  people  have  quailed  at  it ;  the 
craven,  cowardly  wretches,  flying  before  the  man 
they  had  wronged.  I  have  lived  to  bear  the  ban 
ners  of  the  new  republic,  proudly,  in  sight  of  the 
three  kingdoms,  when  practised  skill  and  equal 
arms  have  in  vain  struggled  to  pluck  it  down. 
Ay !  Alice,  the  echoes  of  my  guns  are  still  roar 
ing  among  your  eastern  hills,  and  would  render 
my  name  more  appalling  than  inviting  to  your 
sleeping  yeomen." 

"  Boast  not  of  the  momentary  success  that  the 
arm  of  God  has  yielded  to  your  unhallowed  ef 
forts,"  said  Alice  ;  "  for  a  day  of  severe  and  heavy 
retribution  must  follow ;  nor  flatter  yourself  with 
the  idle  hope,  that  your  name,  terrible  as  ye  have 
rendered  it  to  the  virtuous,  is  sufficient,  of  itself, 
to  drive  the  thoughts  of  home,  and  country,  and 
kin,  from  all  who  hear  it. — Nay,  I  know  not  that 
even  now,  in  listening  to  you,  I  am  not  forgetting 
a  solemn  duty,  which  would  teach  me  to  proclaim 


190  THE    PILOT. 

your  presence,  that  the  land  might  know  that  her 
unnatural  son  is  a  dangerous  burthen  in  her  bo 
som." 

The  Pilot  turned  quickly  in  his  short  walk ; 
and,  after  reading  her  countenance,  with  the  ex 
pression  of  one  who  felt  his  security,  he  said,  in 
gentler  tones — 

"  Would  that  be  Alice  Dunscombe  !  would  that 
be  like  the  mild,  generous  girl  whom  I  knew  in 
my  youth  ?  But  I  repeat,  the  threat  would  fail 
to  intimidate,  even  if  you  were  capable  of  exe 
cuting  it.  I  have  said  that  it  is  only  to  make  the 
signal,  to  draw  around  me  a  force  sufficient  to 
scatter  these  dogs  of  soldiers*  to  the  four  winds  of 
Heaven." 

"  Have  you  calculated  your  power  justly, 
John  ?"  said  Alice,  unconsciously  betraying  her 
deep  interest  in  his  safety.  "  Have  you  reckoned 
the  probability  of  Mr.  Dillon's  arriving,  accompa 
nied  by  an  armed  band  of  horsemen,  with  the 
morning's  sun  ?  for  it's  no  secret  in  the  Abbey, 
that  he  is  gone  in  quest  of  such  assistance." 

"  Dillon  !"  exclaimed  the  Pilot,  starting  ;  "  who 
is  he  !  and  on  what  suspicion  does  he  seek  this 
addition  to  your  guard  ?" 

"  Nay,  John,  look  not  at  me,  as  if  you  would 
know  the  secrets  of  my  heart.  It  was  not  I  who 
prompted  him  to  such  a  step  ;  you  cannot  for  a 
moment  think  that  I  would  betray  you  !  But  too 
surely  he  has  gone,  and,  as  the  night  wears  rapidly 
away,  you  should  be  using  the  hour  of  grace  to 
effect  your  own  security." 

"  Fear  not  for  me,  Alice,"  returned  the  Pilot 
proudly,  while  a  faint  smile  struggled  around  his 
compressed  lip  :  "  and  yet  I  like  not  this  move 
ment,  either.  How  call  you  his  name  ?  Dillon ! 
is  he  a  minion  of  king  George  ?" 


THE    PILOT.  191 

"  He  is,  John,  what  you  are  not,  a  loyal  subject 
of  his  sovereign  lord  the  King,  and,  though  a  na 
tive  of  the  revolted  colonies,  he  has  preserved  his 
virtue  uncontaminated  amid  the  corruptions  and 
temptations  of  the  times." 

"  An  American  !  and  disloyal  to  the  liberties  of 
the  human  race  !  By  Heaven,  he  had  better  not 
cross  me  ;  for  if  my  arm  reach  him,  it  shall  hold 
him  forth  as  a  spectacle  of  treason  to  the  world." 

"  And  has  not  the  world  enough  of  such  a  spec 
tacle  in  yourself?  Are  ye  not,  even  now,  breath 
ing  your  native  air,  though  lurking  through  the 
mists  of  the  island,  with  desperate  intent  against 
its  peace  and  happiness  ?" 

A  dark  and  fierce  expression  of  angry  resent 
ment  flashed  from  the  eyes  of  the  Pilot,  and  even 
his  iron  frame  seemed  to  shake  with  emotion,  as 
he  answered — 

"  Call  you  his  dastardly  and  selfish  treason, 
aiming,  as  it  does,  to  aggrandize  a  few,  at  the  ex 
pense  of  millions,  a  parallel  case  to  the  generous 
ardour  that  impels  a  man  to  fight  in  the  defence  of 
sacred  liberty  ?  I  might  tell  you  that  I  am  armed 
in  the  common  cause  of  my  fellow  subjects  and 
countrymen  ;  that  though  an  ocean  divided  us  in 
distance,  yet  are  we  a  people  of  the  same  blood, 
and  children  of  the  same  parents,  and  that  the  hand 
which  oppresses  one,  inflicts  an  injury  on  the  other. 
But  I  disdain  all  such  narrow  apologies.  I  was 
born  on  this  orb,  and  I  claim  to  be  a  citizen  of  it. 
A  man  with  a  soul,  not  to  be  limited  by  the  arbi 
trary  boundaries  of  tyrants  and  hirelings,  but  one 
who  has  the  right  as  well  as  the  inclination  to  grap 
ple  with  oppression,  in  whose  name  soever  it  is 
exercised,  or  in  whatever  hollow  and  specious 
shape  it  founds  its  claim  to  abuse  our  race." 

"  Ah  !  John,  John,  though  this  may  sound  like 


192  THE    PILOT. 

reason  to  rebellious  ears,  to  mine  it  seemeth  only 
as  the  ravings  of  insanity.  It  is  in  vain  ye  build 
up  your  new  and  disorganizing  systems  of  rule,  or 
rather  misrule,  which  are  opposed  to  all  that  the 
world  has  ever  yet  done,  or  will  ever  see  done  in 
peace  and  happiness.  What  avail  your  subtleties 
and  false  reasonings  against  the  heart  ?  It  is  the 
heart  which  tells  us  where  our  home  is,  and  how 
to  love  it." 

"  You  talk  like  a  weak  and  prejudiced  woman, 
Alice,"  said  the  Pilot,  more  composedly  ;  "  and 
one  who  would  shackle  nations  with  the  ties  that 
bind  the  young  and  feeble  of  your  own  sex  to 
gether." 

"  And  by  what  holier  or  better  bond  can  they 
be  united  ?"  said  Alice.  "  Are  not  the  relations 
of  domestic  life  of  God's  establishing,  and  have 
not  nations  grown  from  families,  as  branches  spread 
from  the  stem,  till  the  tree  overshadows  the  land ! 
'Tis  an  ancient  and  sacred  tie  that  binds  man  to  his 
nation,  neither  can  it  be  severed  without  infamy." 

The  Pilot  smiled  disdainfully,  and  throwing  open 
the  rough  exterior  of  his  dress,  he  drew  forth,  in 
succession,  several  articles,  while  a  glowing  pride 
lighted  his  countenance,  as  he  offered  them  singly 
to  her  notice. 

"  See,  Alice  !"  he  said,  "  call  you  this  infamy  ! 
This  broad  sheet  of  parchment  is  stamped  with  a 
seal  of  no  mean  importance,  and  it  bears  the  royal 
name  of  the  princely  Louis  also  !  And  view  this 
cross !  decorated  as  it  is  with  jewels,  the  gift  of 
the  same  illustrious  hand ;  it  is  not  apt  to  be  given 
to  the  children  of  infamy,  neither  is  it  wise  or  de 
corous  to  stigmatize  a  man  who  has  not  been 
thought  unworthy  to  consort  with  princes  and  no 
bles  by  the  opprobrious  name  of  the  '  Scotch  Pi 
rate.'" 


THE    PILOT.  193 

"And  have  ye  not  earned  the  title,  John,  by 
ruthless  deeds  and  bitter  animosity  ?  I  could  kiss 
the  baubles  ye  show  me,  if  they  were  a  thousand 
times  less  splendid,  had  they  been  laid  upon  your 
breast  by  the  hands  of  your  lawful  prince ;  but  now 
they  appear  to  my  eyes  only  as  indelible  blots  upon 
your  attainted  name.  As  for  your  associates,  I 
have  heard  of  them !  and  it  seemeth  that  a  queen 
might  be  better  employed  than  encouraging  by 
her  smiles  the  disloyal  subjects  of  other  monarchs, 
though  even  her  enemies.  God  only  knows  when 
his  pleasure  may  suffer  a  spirit  of  disaffection  to 
rise  up  among  the  people  of  her  own  nation,  and 
then  the  thought  that  she  has  encouraged  rebel 
lion  may  prove  both  bitter  and  unwelcome." 

"  That  the  royal  and  lovely  Antoinette  has 
deigned  to  repay  my  services  with  a  small  portion 
of  her  gracious  approbation,  is  not  among  the  least 
qf  my  boasts,"  returned  the  Pilot,  in  affected  hu 
mility,  while  secret  pride  was  manifested  even  in 
his  lofty  attitude;  "  But  venture  not  a  syllable  in 
her  dispraise,  for  you  know  not  whom  you  censure 
She  is  less  distinguished  by  her  illustrious  birth 
and  elevated  station,  than  by  her  virtues  and  love 
liness.  She  lives  the  first  of  her  sex  in  Europe — 
the  daughter  of  an  emperor,  the  consort  of  the 
most  powerful  king,  and  the  smiling  and  beloved 
patroness  of  a  nation  who  worship  at  her  feet.  Her 
life  is  above  all  reproach,  as  it  is  above  all  earthly 
punishment,  were  she  so  lost  as  to  merit  it ;  and 
it  has  been  the  will  of  Providence  to  place  her  far 
beyond  the  reach  of  all  human  misfortunes." 

V  Has  it  placed  her  above  human  errors,  John  ! 
punishment  is  the  natural   and  inevitable   conse 
quence  of  sin,  and  unless  she  can  say  more  than 
has  ever  fallen  to  the  lot  of  humanity  to  say  truly, 
17 


194  THE    PILOT. 

she  may  yet  be  made  to  feel  the  chastening  arm 
of  One,  to  whose  eyes  all  her  pageantry  and  pow 
er  are  as  vacant  as  the  air  she  breathes — so  insig 
nificant  must  it  seem  when  compared  to  his  own 
just  rule  !  But  if  you  vaunt  that  you  have  been 
permitted  to  kiss  the  hem  of  the  robes  of  the 
French  queen,  and  have  been  the  companion  of 
high-born  and  flaunting  ladies,  clad  in  their  riches, 
array,  can  ye  yet  say  to  yourself,  that  amid  them 
all  ye  have  found  one  whose  tongue  has  been  bold 
to  tell  you  the  truth,  or  whose  heart  has  sincerely 
joined  in  her  false  professions  !" 

"  Certainly  none  have  met  me  with  the  reproach 
es  that  I  have  this  night  received  from  Alice  Duns- 
combe,  after  a  separation  of  six  long  years,"  re 
turned  the  Pilot. 

"  If  I  have  spoken  to  you  the  words  of  holy 
truth,  John,  let  them  not  be  the  less  welcome,  be 
cause  they  are  strangers  to  your  ears.  Oh  !  think 
that  she  who  has  thus  dared  to  use  the  language 
of  reproach  to  one  whose  name  is  terrible  to  all 
who  live  on  the  border  of  this  island,  is  led  to  the 
rash  act  by  no  other  motive  than  interest  in  your 
eternal  welfare." 

"  Alice  !  Alice,  you  madden  me  with  these  fool 
ish  speeches !  Am  I  a  monster  to  frighten  unpro 
tected  women  and  helpless  children  ?  What  mean 
these  epithets,  as  coupled  with  my  fame  ?  Have 
you  too  lent  a  credulous  ear  to  the  vile  calumnies 
with  which  the  policy  of  your  rulers  have  ever  at 
tempted  to  destroy  the  fair  fame  o(  those  who  op 
pose  them,  and  those  chiefly  who  oppose  them 
with  success.  My  name  may  be  terrible  to, the 
officers  of  the  royal  fleet,  but  where  and  how  have 
I  earned  a  claim  to  be  considered  formidable  to  the 
helpless  and  unoffending  ?" 


THE    PILOT.  195 

Alice  Dunscombe  cast  a  furtive  and  timid  glance 
at  the  Pilot,  which  spoke  even  stronger  than  her 
words,  as  she  replied — 

"  I  know  not  that  all  which  is  said  of  you  and 
your  deeds  is  true.  I  have  often  prayed,  in  bit 
terness  and  sorrow,  that  a  tenth  part  of  that  which 
is  laid  to  your  charge  may  not  be  heaped  on  your 
devoted  head  at  the  great  and  fin?.!  account.  But, 
John,  I  have  known  you  long  and  well,  and  Heaven 
forbid,  that  on  this  solemn  occasion,  which  may  be 
the  last  of  our  earthly  interviews,  I  should  be 
found  wanting  in  Christian  duty,  through  a  wo 
man's  weakness.  I  have  often  thought,  when  I 
have  heard  the  gall  of  bitter  reproach  and  enve 
nomed  language  hurled  against  your  name,  that 
they  wrho  spoke  so  rashly,  little  understood  the 
man  they  vituperated.  But,  though  ye  are  at 
timss,  and  I  may  say  almost  always,  as  mild  and 
even  as  the  smoothest  sea  over  w7hich  ye  have 
ever  sailed,  yet  God  has  mingled  in  your  nature  a 
fearful  mixture  of  fierce  passions,  which,  roused, 
are  more  like  the  southern  waters  when  troubled 
with  the  tornado.  It  is  difficult  for  me  to  say  how 
far  this  evil  spirit  may  lead  a  man,  who  has  been 
goaded  by  fancied  wrongs,  to  forget  his  country 
and  home,  and  who  is  suddenly  clothed  with  pow 
er  to  show  his  resentments." 

The  Pilot  listened  with  rooted  attention,  and 
his  piercing  eye  seemed  to  reach  the  seat  of  those 
thoughts  which  she  but  half  expressed  ;  still  he 
retained  the  entire  command  of  himself,  and  an 
swered,  more  in  sorrow  than  in  anger — 

"  If  any  thing  could  convert  me  to  your  own 
peaceful  and  unresisting  opinions,  Alice,  it  would 
be  the  reflections  that  offer  themselves  at  this  con 
viction,  that  even  you  have  been  led  by  the  base 
tongues  of  my  dastardly  enemies,  to  doubt  my 


196  THE    PILOT. 

honour  and  conduct.  What  is  fame,  when  a  man 
can  be  thus  traduced  to  his  nearest  friends  !  But 
no  more  of  these  childis-h  reflections  !  They  are 
unworthy  of  myself,  my  office,  and  the  sacred  cause 
in  which  I  have  enlisted  !" 

"  Nay,  John,  shake  them  not  off,"  said  Alice, 
unconsciously  laying  her  hand  on  his  arm ;  "  they 
are  as  the  dew  to  the  parched  herbage,  and  may 
freshen  the  feelings  of  your  youth,  and  soften  the 
heart  that  has  grown  hard,  if  hard  it  be,  more  by 
unnatural  indulgence,  than  its  own  base  inclina 
tions." 

"  Alice  Dunscombe,"  said  the  Pilot,  approach 
ing  her  with  solemn  earnestness,  "  I  have  learnt 
much  this  night,  though  I  came  not  in  quest  of  such 
knowledge.  You  have  taught  me  how  powerful  is 
the  breath  of  the  slanderer,  and  how  frail  is  the 
tenure  by  which  we  hold  our  good  names.  Full 
twenty  times  have  I  met  the  hirelings  of  your 
prince  in  open  battle,  fighting  ever  manfully  under 
that  flag  which  was  first  raised  to  the  breeze  by 
my  own  hands,  and  which,  I  thank  my  God,  I  have 
never  yet  seen  lowered  an  inch ;  but  with  no  one 
act  of  cowardice  or  private  wrong  in  all  that  ser 
vice,  can  I  reproach  myself;  and  yet,  how  am  I 
rewarded  !  The  tongue  of  the  vile  calumniator  is 
keener  than  the  sword  of  the  warrior,  and  leaves 
a  more  indelible  scar  !" 

"  Never  have  ye  uttered  a  truer  sentiment, 
John,  and  God  send  that  ye  may  encourage  such 
thoughts  to  your  own  eternal  advantage,"  said 
Alice,  with  engaging  interest.  "  You  say  that  you 
have  risked  your  precious  life  in  twenty  combats, 
and  observe  how  little  of  Heaven's  favour  is  be 
stowed  on  the  abettors  of  rebellion  !  They  tell 
me  that  the  world  has  never  witnessed  a  more  des 
perate  and  bloody  struggle,  than  this  last,  for  which 


THE    PILOT.  197 

your  name  has  been  made  to  sound  to  the  further 
most  ends  of  the  isle." 

"  'Twill  be  known  wherever  naval  combats  aie 
spoken  of !"  interrupted  the  Pilot,  the  melancholy 
which  had  begun  to  lower  in  his  countenance 
giving  place  to  a  look  of  proud  exultation. 

"  And  yet  its  fancied  glory  cannot  shield  your 
name  from  wrong,  nor  are  the  rewards  of  the  vic 
tor  equal,  in  a  temporal  sense,  to  those  which  the 
vanquished  has  received.  Know  you  that  our 
gracious  monarch,  deeming  your  adversary's  cause 
so  sacred,  has  extended  to  him  his  royal  favour  ?" 

"  Ay  !  he  has  dubbed  him  knight !"  exclaimed 
the  Pilot,  with  a  scornful  and  bitter  laugh  :  "  let 
him  be  again  furnished  with  a  ship,  and  me  with 
another  opportunity,  and  I  promise  him  an  earl 
dom,  if  being  again  vanquished  can  constitute  a 
claim  !" 

"  Speak  not  so  rashly,  nor  vaunt  yourself  of 
possessing  a  protecting  power,  that  may  desert  you, 
John,  when  you  most  need  it,  and  least  expect  the 
change,"  returned  his  companion  ;  "  the  battle  is 
not  always  to  the  strong,  neither  is  the  race  to  the 
swift." 

"  Forget  you,  my  good  Alice,  that  your  words 
will  admit  of  a  double  meaning  ?  Has  the  battle 
been  to  the  strong  !  Though  you  say  not  well  in 
denying  the  race  to  the  swift.  Yes,  yes,  often  and 
again  have  the  dastards  escaped  me  by  their  pru 
dent  speed  Alice  Dunscombe,  you  know  not  a 
thousandth  part  of  the  torture  that  I  have  been 
made  to  feel,  by  high  born  miscreants,  who  envy 
the  merit  they  cannot  equal,  and  detract  from  the 
glory  of  deeds  that  they  dare  not  attempt  to  emu 
late.  How  have  I  been  cast  upon  the  ocean  like 
some  unworthy  vessel  that  is  commissioned  to  do 
a  desperate  deed,  and  then  to  bury  itself  in  the 
17* 


198  THE    PILOT. 

ruin  it  has  made  !  How  many  malignant  hearts 
have  triumphed,  as  they  beheld  my  canvass  open, 
thinking  that  it  was  spread  to  hasten  me  to  a  gib 
bet,  or  to  a  tomb  in  the  bosom  of  the  ocean ;  but  I 
have  disappointed  them  !" 

The  eyes  of  the  Pilot  no  longer  gazed  with  their 
piercing  and  settled  meaning,  but  they  flashed  with 
a  fierce  and  wild  pleasure,  as  he  continued,  in  a 
louder  voice — 

"  Yes,  bitterly  have  I  disappointed  them  !  Oh  ! 
the  triumph  over  my  fallen  enemies  has  been  tame 
to  this  heartfelt  exultation  which  places  me  im 
measurably  above  those  false  and  craven  hypo 
crites  !  I  begged,  I  implored  the  Frenchmen,  for 
the  meanest  of  their  craft,  which  possessed  but  the 
common  qualities  of  a  ship  of  war  :  I  urged  the 
policy  and  necessity  of  giving  me  such  a  force,  for 
even  then  I  promised  to  be  found  in  harm's  way ; 
but  envy  and  jealousy  robbed  me  of  my  just  dues, 
and  of  more  than  half  my  glory.  They  call  me 
pirate  !  If  I  have  a  claim  to  the  name,  it  was  fur 
nished  more  by  the  paltry  outfit  of  my  friends  than 
by  any  act  towards  my  enemies !" 

"  And  do  not  these  recollections  prompt  you  to 
return  to  your  allegiance  to  your  prince  and  native 
land,  John  ?"  said  Alice,  in  a  subdued  voice. 

"  Away  writh  the  silly  thought !"  interrupted 
the  Pilot,  recalled  to  himself  as  if  by  a  sudden  con 
viction  of  the  weakness  he  had  betrayed ;  "  it  is 
ever  thus  where  men  are  made  conspicuous  by 
their  works — but  to  your  visit — I  have  the  power 
to  rescue  myself  and  companions  from  this  paltry 
confinement,  and  yet  I  would  not  have  it  done  with 
violence  for  your  sake.  Bring  you  the  means  of 
doing  it  in  quiet  ?" 

"  When  the  morning  arrives,  you  will  be  all 
conducted  to  the  apartment  where  we  first  met.— 


THE    PILOT.  199 

This  will  be  done  at  the  solicitation  of  Miss  How 
ard,  under  the  plea  of  compassion  and  justice,  and 
with  the  professed  object  of  inquiring  into  your 
situations.  Her  request  will  not  be  refused,  and 
while  your  guard  is  stationed  at  the  door,  you  will 
be  shown  by  another  entrance  through  the  private 
apartments  of  the  wing,  to  a  window  whence  you 
can  easily  leap  to  the  ground,  where  a  thicket  is 
at  hand  ;  afterwards  we  shall  trust  your  safety  to 
your  own  discretion." 

"  And  if  this  Dillon,  of  whom  you  have  spoken, 
should  suspect  the  truth,  how  will  you  answer  to 
the  law  for  aiding  our  escape  ?" 

"  I  believe  he  little  dreams  who  is  among  the 
prisoners,"  said  Alice,  musing,  "  though  he  may 
have  detected  the  character  of  one  of  your  com 
panions.  But  it  is  private  feeling,  rather  than 
public  spirit,  that  urges  him  on." 

"  I  have  suspected  something  of  this,"  returned 
the  Pilot,  with  a. smile,  that  crossed  those  features 
where  ungovernable  passions  had  so  lately  been 
exhibited,  with  an  effect  that  might  be  likened  to 
the  last  glimmering  of  an  expiring  conflagration, 
serving  to  render  the  surrounding  ruin  more  ob 
vious.  "  This  young  Griffith  has  led  me  from  my 
direct  path,  with  his  idle  imprudence,  and  it  is 
right  that  his  mistress  should  incur  some  risk.  But 
with  you,  Alice,  the  case  is  different ;  here  you  are 
only  a  guest,  and  it  is  unnecessary  that  you  should 
be  known  in  the  unfortunate  affair.  Should  my 
name  get  abroad,  this  recreant  American,  this  Col. 
Howard,  will  find  all  the  favour  he  has  purchased 
by  advocating  the  cause  of  tyranny  necessary  to 
protect  him  from  the  displeasure  of  the  minis 
try." 

"  I  fear  to  trust  so  delicate  a  measure  to  the 


200  THE    PILOT. 

young  discretion  of  my  amiable  friend,"  said  Alice, 
shaking  her  head. 

"  Remember,  that  she  has  her  attachment  to 
plead  in  her  excuse  ;  but  dare  you  say  to  the 
world  that  you  still  remember,  with  gentle  feel 
ings,  the  man  whom  you  stigmatize  with  such  op 
probrious  epithets  ?" 

A  slight  colour  gleamed  over  the  pallid  brow  of 
Alice  Dunscombe,  as  she  uttered,  in  a  voice  that 
was  barely  audible — 

"  There  is  no  longer  a  reason  why  the  world 
should  know  of  such  a  weakness,  though  it  did 
exist."  And,  as  the  faint  glow  passed  away,  leav 
ing  her  face  pale,  nearly  as  the  hue  of  death,  her 
eyes  kindled  with  unusual  fire,  and  she  added, 
"  They  can  but  take  my  life,  John,  and  that  I  am 
ready  to  lay  down  in  your  service  !" 

"  Alice  !"  exclaimed  the  softened  Pilot,  "  my 
kind,  my  gentle  Alice  ! — " 

The  knock  of  the  sentinel  at  the  door  was  heard 
at  this  critical  moment.  Without  waiting  for  a  re 
ply  to  his  summons,  the  man  entered  the  apart 
ment,  and,  in  hurried  language,  declared  the  ur 
gent  necessity  that  existed  for  the  lady  to  retire. 
A  few  brief  remonstrances  were  uttered  by  both 
Alice  and  the  Pilot,  who  wished  to  comprehend 
more  clearly  each  other's  intentions  relative  to  the 
intended  escape  ;  but  the  fear  of  personal  punish 
ment  rendered  the  soldier  obdurate,  and  a  dread 
of  exposure  at  length  induced  the  lady  to  comply. 
She  arose,  and  was  leaving  the  apartment  with 
lingering  steps,  when  the  Pilot,  touching  her  hand, 
whispered  to  her  impressively — 

"  Alice,  we  meet  again  before  I  leave  this  island 
for  ever." 

"  We  meet  in  the  morning,  John,"  she  return- 


THE    PILOT.  201 

ed,  in  the  same  tone  of  voice,  "  in  the  apartments 
of  Miss  Howard." 

He  dropped  her  hand,  and  she  glided  from  the 
room,  when  the  impatient  sentinel  closed  the  door, 
and  silently  turned  the  key  on  his  prisoner.  The 
Pilot  remained  in  a  listening  attitude,  until  the 
light  footsteps  of  the  retiring  pair  were  no  longer 
audible,  when  he  paced  his  confined  apartment 
with  perturbed  steps,  occasionally  pausing  to  look 
out  at  the  driving  clouds,  and  the  groaning  oaks 
that  were  trembling  and  rocking  their  broad  arms 
in  the  fitful  gusts  of  the  gale.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  tempest  in  his  own  passions  had  gradually  sub 
sided  to  the  desperate  and  still  calmness  that  made 
him  the  man  he  was ;  when  he  again  seated  him 
self  where  Alice  had  found  him,  and  began  to  muse 
on  the  events  of  the  times,  from  which,  the  transi 
tion  to  projecting  schemes  of  daring  enterprise  and 
mighty  consequences,  was  but  the  usual  employ 
ment  of  his  active  and  restless  mind. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Sir  And.    I  have  no  exquisite  reason  for't,  but  I've  reason  good  enough." 

Twelfth  Wight. 


THE  countenance  of  Captain  Borroughcliffe, 
when  the  sentinel  admitted  him  to  the  apartment 
that  he  had  selected,  was  hi  that  state  of  doubtfui 
illumination,  when  looks  of  peculiar  cunning  blend 
so  nicely  with  the  stare  of  vacancy,  that  the  hu 
man  face  is  rendered  not  unlike  an  April  day,  now 
smiling  and  inviting,  and  at  the  next  moment  cloud 
ed  and  dreary.  It  was  quite  apparent  that  the 
soldier  had  an  object  for  his  unexpected  visit,  by 
the  importance  of  his  air,  and  the  solemnity  of  the 
manner  with  which  he  entered  on  the  business. 
He  waved  his  hand  for  the  sentinel  to  retire,  with 
lofty  dignity,  and  continued  balancing  his  body, 
during  the  closing  of  the  door,  and  while  a  sound 
continued  audible  to  his  confused  faculties,  with 
his  eyes  fixed  in  the  direction  of  the  noise,  with 
that  certain  sort  of  wise  look,  that  in  many  men 
supplies  the  place  of  something  better.  When  the 
captain  felt  himself  secure  from  interruption,  he 
moved  round  with  quick  military  precision,  in  or 
der  to  face  the  man  of  whom  he  was  in  quest. 
Griffith  had  been  sleeping,  though  uneasily,  and 
with  watchfulness ;  and  the  Pilot  had  been  calmly 


THE    PILOT. 


263 


awaiting  the  visit  which  it  seemed  he  had  antici 
pated  ;  but  their  associate,  who  was  no  other  than 
Captain  Manual,  of  the  marines,  was  discovered  in 
a  very  different  condition  from  either.  Though 
the  weather  was  cool,  and  the  night  tempestuous, 
he  had  thrown  aside  his  pee-jacket,  with  most  of 
his  disguise,  and  was  sitting  ruefully  on  his  blan 
ket,  wiping,  with  one  hand,  the  large  drops  of 
sweat  from  his  forehead,  and  occasionally  grasping 
his  throat  with  the  other,  with  a  kind  of  convulsed, 
mechanical  movement.  He  stared  wildly  at  his 
visiter,  though  his  entrance  produced  no  other  al 
teration  in  these  pursu  ts,  than  a  more  diligent  ap 
plication  of  his  handkerchief,  and  a  more  frequent 
grasping  of  his  naked  neck,  as  if  he  were  willing 
to  ascertain,  by  actual  experiment,  what  degree  of 
pressure  the  part  was  able  to  sustain,  without  ex 
ceeding  a  given  quantity  of  inconvenience. 

"  Comrade,  I  greet  ye  !"  said  Borroughcliffe, 
staggering  to  the  side  of  his  prisoner,  where  he 
seated  himself  with  an  entire  absence  of  ceremo 
ny  ;  "  Comrade,  I  greet  ye  !  Is  tbe  kingdom  in 
danger,  that  gentlemen  traverse  the  island  in  the 
uniform  of  the  regiment  of  incognitus,  incognitii, 
'torum — dammee,  how  I  forget  my  Latin  !  Say, 
my  fine  fellow,  are  you  one  of  these  'torums  ?" 

Manual  breathed  a  little  hard,  which,  consider 
ing  the  manner  he  had  been  using  his  throat,  was 
a  thing  to  be  expected  ;  but,  swallowing  his  appre 
hensions,  he  answered  with  more  spirit  than  his 
situation  rendered  prudent,  or  the  occasion  de 
manded. 

"  Say  what  you  will  of  me,  and  treat  me  as 
you  please,  I  defy  any  man  to  call  me  tory  with 
truth." 

"  You  are  no  'torum  !  Well,  then,  the  war-office 
aas  got  up  a  new  dress  !  Your  regiment  must  have 


204  THE    PILOT. 

earned  their  facings  in  storming  some  water  bat 
tery,  or  perhaps  it  has  done  duty  as  marines.  Am 
1  right  ?" 

"  I'll  not  deny  it,"  said  Manual,  more  stoutly ; 
"  I  have  served  as  a  marine  for  two  years,  though 
taken  from  the  line  of — " 

"  The  army,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  interrupting 
a  most  damning  confession  of  which  "  state  line" 
the  other  had  belonged  to.  "  I  kept  a  dog-watch 
myself,  once,  on  board  the  fleet  of  my  Lord  Howe  ; 
but  it  is  a  service  that  I  do  not  envy  any  man. 
Our  afternoon  parades  were  dreadfully  unsteady, 
for  it's  a  time,  you  know,  when  a  man  wants  solid 
ground  to  stand  on.  However,  I  purchased  my 
company  with  some  prize  money  that  fell  in  my 
way,  and  1  always  remember  the  marine  service 
with  gratitude.  But  this  is  dry  work.  I  have  put 
a  bottle  of  sparkling  Madeira  in  my  pocket,  with 
a  couple  of  glasses,  which  we  will  discuss,  while 
we  talk  over  more  important  matters.  Thrust 
your  hand  into  my  right  pocket ;  I  have  been  used 
to  dress  to  the  front  so  long,  that  it  comes  mighty 
awkward  to  me  to  make  this  backward  motion,  as 
if  it  were  into  a  cartridge  box." 

Manual,  who  had  been  at  a  loss  how  to  construe 
the  manner  of  the  other,  perceived  at  once  a  good 
deal  of  plain  English  in  this  request,  and  he  dis 
lodged  one  of  Col.  Howard's  dusty  bottles,  with  a 
dexterity  that  denoted  the  earnestness  of  his  pur 
pose.  Borroughcliffe  had  made  a  suitable  provi 
sion  of  glasses,  and  extracting  the  cork  in  a  certain 
scientific  manner,  he  tendered  to  his  companion  a 
bumper  of  the  liquor,  before  another  syllable  was 
uttered  by  either  of  the  expectants.  The  gentle 
men  concluded  their  draughts  with  a  couple  of 
smacks,  that  sounded  not  unlike  the  pistols  of  two 
practised  duellists,  though  certainly  a  much  less 


THE    PILOT.  205 

alarming  noise  ;  when  the  entertainer  renewed  the 
discourse. 

"  I  like  one  of  your  musty  looking  bottles,  that 
is  covered  with  dust  and  cobw  bs,  with  a  good 
southern  tan  on  it,"  he  said.  "  Such  liquor  does 
not  abide  in  the  stomach,  but  it  gets  into  the  heart 
at  once,  and  becomes  blood  in  the  beating  of  a 
pulse.  But  how  soon  I  knew  you  !  That  sort  of 
knowledge  is  the  freemasonry  of  our  craft.  I  knew 
you  to  be  the  man  you  are,  the  moment  I  laid  eyes 
on  you  in  what  we  call  our  guard-room  ;  but  I 
thought  I  would  humour  the  old  soldier  who  lives 
here,  by  letting  him  have  the  formula  of  an  exa 
mination,  as  a  sort  of  deference  to  his  age  and  for 
mer  rank.  But  I  knew  you  the  instant  I  saw  you. 
I  have  seen  you  before  !" 

The  theory  of  Borrougholiffe,  in  relation  to  the 
incorporation  of  wine  with  the  blood,  might  have 
been  true  in  the  case  of  the  marine,  whose  whole 
frame  appeared  to  undergo  a  kind  of  magical  change 
by  the  experiment  of  drinking,  which,  the  reader 
will  understand,  was  diligently  persevered  in,  while 
a  drop  remained  in  the  bottle.  The  perspiration 
no  longer  rolled  from  his  brow,  neither  did  his 
throat  manifest  that  uneasiness  which  had  rendered 
such  constant  external  applications  necessary  ;  but 
he  settled  down  into  an  air  of  cool,  but  curious  in 
terest,  which,  in  some  measure,  was  the  necessary 
concomitant  of  his  situation. 

"  We  may  have  met  before,  as  I  have  been 
much  in  service,  and  yet  I  know  not  where  you 
could  have  seen  me,"'  said  Manual.  "  Were  you 
ever  a  prisoner  of  war  ?" 

"  Hum  !  not  exactly  such  an  unfortunate  devil ; 

but  a  sort  of  conventional  non-combatant.     I  shared 

the  hardships,  the  glory,  the  equivocal  victories, 

( where  we  killed  and  drove  countless  numbers  of 

18 


206  THE    PILOT. 

rebels — who  were  not,)  and,  wo  is  me!  the  ca 
pitulation  of  Burgoyne.  But  let  that  pass — which 
was  more  than  the  Yankees  would  allow  us  to 
do.  You  know  not  where  I  could  have  seen 
you  ?  I  have  seen  you  on  parade,  in  the  field,  in 
battle  and  out  of  battle,  in  camp,  in  barracks,  in 
short,  every  where  but  in  a  drawing-room.  No, 
no  ;  I  have  never  seen  you  before  this  night  in  a 
drawing-room  !" 

Manual  stared  in  a  good  deal  of  wonder,  and 
some  uneasiness,  at  these  confident  assertions,  which 
promised  to  put  his  life  in  no  little  jeopardy  ;  and 
it  is  to  be  supposed  that  the  peculiar  sensation  about 
the  throat  ,was  revived,  as  he  made  a  heavy  draught 
before  he  said — 

"  You  will  swear  to  this — Can  you  call  me  by 
name  ?" 

"  I  will  swear  to  it  in  any  court  in  Christen 
dom,"  said  the  dogmatical  soldier  ;  "  and  your  name 
is — is — Fugleman  !" 

"  If  it  is,  I'll  be  damn'd !"  exclaimed  the  other 
with  exulting  precipitation. 

"  Swear  not !"  said  Borroughcliffe,  with  a  so 
lemn  air ;  "  for  what  mattereth  an  empty  name  ! 
Call  thyself  by  what  appellation  thou  wilt,  I  know 
thee.  Soldier  is  written  on  thy  martial  front; 
thy  knee  bendeth  not ;  nay,  I  even  doubt  if  the  re 
bellious  member  bow  in  prayer." — 

"  Come,  sir,"  interrupted  Manual,  a  little  stern 
ly  ;  "  no  more  of  this  trifling,  but  declare  your  will 
at  once.  Rebellious  member,  indeed  !  These  fel 
lows  will  call  the  skies  of  America  rebellious  hea 
vens  shortly !" 

"  I  like  thy  spirit,  lad,"  returned  the  undis 
turbed  Borroughcliffe  ;  "  it  sits  as  gracefully  on  a 
soldier,  as  his  sash  and  gorget ;  but  it  is  lost  on  an 
old  campaigner.  I  marvel,  however,  that  thou 


THE    PILOT.  207 

takest  such  umbrage  at  my  slight  attack  on  thy 
orthodoxy.  I  fear  the  fortress  must  be  weak, 
where  the  outworks  are  defended  with  such  a 
waste  of  unnecessary  courage." 

"  I  know  not  why  or  wherefore  you  have  paid 
me  this  visit,  Captain  Borroughcliife,"  said  Ma 
nual,  with  a  laudable  discretion,  which  prompted 
him  to  reconnoitre  the  other's  views  a  little,  be 
fore  he  laid  himself  more  open  ;  "  if  captain  be 
your  rank,  and  Borroughcliffe  be  your  name.  But 
this  I  do  know,  that  if  it  be  only  to  mock  me  in 
my  present  situation,  it  is  neither  soldier-like  nor 
manly ;  and  it  is  what,  in  other  circumstances, 
might  be  attended  by  some  hazard." 

"  Hum  !"  said  the  other,  with  his  immovable 
coolness ;  "  I  see  you  set  the  wine  down  as  no 
thing,  though  the  king  drinks  not  as  good  ;  for  the 
plain  reason  that  the  sun  of  England  cannot  find 
its  way  through  the  walls  of  Windsor  Castle,  as 
easily  as  the  sun  of  Carolina  can  warm  a  garret 
covered  with  cedar  shingles.  But  I  like  your 
spirit  more  and  more.  So  draw  yourself  up  in 
battle  array,  and  let  us  have  another  charge  at  this 
black  bottle,  when  I  shall  lay  before  your  military 
eyes  a  plan  of  the  whole  campaign." 

Manual  first  bestowed  an  inquiring  glance  at  his 
companion,  when,  discovering  no  other  expression 
than  foolish  cunning,  which  was  fast  yielding  be 
fore  the  encroaching  footsteps  of  stupid  inebriety, 
^e  quietly  placed  himself  in  the  desired  position. 
The  wine  was  drunk,  when  Borroughcliffe  pro 
ceeded  to  open  his  communications  more  unre 
servedly. 

"  You  are  a  soldier,  and  I  am  a  soldier.  That 
you  are  a  soldier,  my  orderly  could  tell ;  for  the 
dog  has  both  seen  a  campaign,  and  smelt  villanous 
salt-petre,  when  compounded  according  to  a  wick- 


208  THE    PILOT. 

ed  invention  ;  but  it  required  the  officer  to  detect 
the  officer.  Privates  do  not  wear  such  linen  as 
this,  which  seemeth  to  me  an  unreasonably  cool 
attire  for  the  season  ;  nor  velvet  stocks,  with  sil 
ver  buckles ;  nor  is  there  often  the  odorous  flavour 
of  sweet-scented  pomatum  to  be  discovered  around 
their  greasy  locks.  In  short,  thou  art  both  soldier 
and  officer." 

"  I  confess  it,"  said  Manual ;  "  I  hold  the  rank 
of  captain,  and  shall  expect  the  treatment  of  one." 

"  I  think  I  have  furnished  you  with  wine  fit  for 
a  general,"  returned  Borroughclitfe ;  "  but  have 
your  own  way.  Now,  it  would  be  apparent  to 
men,  whose  faculties  had  not  been  rendered  clear 
by  such  cordials  as  this  dwelling  aboundeth  with, 
that  when  you  officers  journey  through  the  island, 
clad  in  the  uniform  incognitorum,  which,  in  your 
case,  means  the  marine  corps,  that  something  is  in 
the  wind  of  more  than  usual  moment.  Soldiers 
owe  their  allegiance  to  their  prince,  and  next  to 
him,  to  war,  women,  and  wine.  Of  war,  there  is 
none  in  the  realm  ;  of  women,  plenty  ;  but  wine, 
I  regret  to  say,  that  is,  good  wine,  grows  both 
scarce  and  dear.  Do  I  speak  to  the  purpose,  com 
rade  ?» 

"  Proceed,"  said  Manual,  whose  eyes  were  not 
less  attentive  than  his  ears,  in  a  hope  to  discover 
whether  his  true  character  were  understood. 

"  En  avant !  in  plain  English,  forward  march  ! 
Well,  then,  the  difficulty  lies  between  women  and 
wine  ;  which,  when  the  former  are  pretty,  and  the 
latter  rich,  is  a  very  agreeable  sort  of  an  alterna 
tive.  That  it  is  not  wine  of  which  you  are  in 
quest,  I  must  believe,  my  comrade  captain,  or  you 
would  not  go  on  the  adventure  in  such  shabby  at 
tire.  You  will  excuse  me,  but  who  would  think 
of  putting  anything  better  than  their  Port  before  a 


THE    PILOT.  209 

mah  *n  a  pair  of  tarred  trowsers  ?  No  !  no  !  Hol 
lands,  green-and-yellow  Hollands,  is  a  potation 
good  enough  to  set  before  one  of  the  present  bear- 
ing." 

"  And  yet  I  have  met  with  him  who  has  treated 
me  to  the  choicest  of  the  south-side  Madeira  !" 

"  Know  you  the  very  side  from  which  the  pre 
cious  fluid  comes  !  That  looks  more  in  favour  of 
the  wine.  But,  after  all,  woman,  dear,  capricious 
woman,  who  one  moment  fancies  she  sees  a  hero 
in  regimentals,  and  the  next  a  saint  in  a  cassock ; 
and  who  always  sees  something  admirable  in  a 
suitor,  whether  he  be  clad  in  tow  or  velvet — wo 
man  is  at  the  bottom  of  this  mysterious  masquera 
ding.  Am  I  right,  comrade  ?" 

By  this  time,  Manual  had  discovered  that  he 
wras  safe,  ana  he  returned  to  the  conversation  with 
a  revival  of  all  his  ready  wits,  which  had  been 
strangely  paralyzed  by  his  previous  disorder  in  the 
region  of  the  throat.  First  bestowing  a  wicked 
wink  on  his  companion,  and  a  look  that  would  have 
outdone  the  wisest  aspeot  of  Solomon,  he  re 
plied — 

"  Ah  !  woman  has  much  to  answer  for !" 

"  I  knew  it,"  exclaimed  BorroughclifFe  ;  "  and 
this  confession  only  confirms  me  in  the  good  opinion 
I  have  always  entertained  of  myself.  If  his  ma 
jesty  has  any  particular  wish  to  close  this  Ameri 
can  business,  let  him  have  a  certain  convention 
burnt,  and  a  nameless  person  promoted,  and  we 
shall  see  !  But,  answer  as  you  love  truth  ;  is  it  a 
business  of  holy  matrimony,  or  a  mere  dalliance 
with  the  sweets  of  Cupid  ?" 

"  Of  honest  wedlock,"  said  Manual,  with  an 
air  as  serious  as  if  Hymen  already  held  him  in  his 
fetters. 

"  'Tis  honest !     Is  there  money  ?" 
18* 


210  THE    PILOT. 

"  Is  there  money  ?"  repeated  Manual,  with  a 
sort  of  contemptuous  echo.  "  Would  a  soldier 
part  with  his  liberty,  but  with  his  life,  unless  the 
chains  were  made  of  gold  ?" 

"  That's  the  true  military  doctrine  !"  cried 
the  other  ;  "  faith,  you  have  some  discretion  in 
your  amphibious  corps,  I  find  !  But  why  this 
disguise,  are  the  '  seniors  grave,'  as  well  as  '  po 
tent  and  reverend  ?'  Why  this  disguise,  I  again 
ask  ?" 

"  Why  this  disguise  !"  repeated  Manual,  cool 
ly  ;  "  Is  there  any  such  thing  as  love  in  your  re 
giment  without  disguise  ?  With  us  it  is  a  regular 
symptom  of  the  disease." 

"  A  most  just  and  discreet  description  of  the 
passion,  my  amphibious  comrade  !"  said  the  English 
officer  ;  "  and  yet  the  symptoms  in  your  case  are 
attended  by  some  very  malignant  tokens.  Does 
your  mistress  love  tar  ?" 

"  No  ;  but  she  loveth  me  ;  and,  of  course,  what 
ever  attire  I  choose  to  appear  in." 

"  Still  discreet  and  sagacious !  and  yet  only  a 
most  palpable  feint  to  avoid  my  direct  attack.  You 
have  heard  of  such  a  place  as  Gretna  Green,  a  lit 
tle  to  the  north  of  this,  I  dare  say,  my  aquatic 
comrade.  Am  I  right  ?" 

"  Gretna  Green  !"  said  Manual,  a  little  embar 
rassed  by  his  ignorance  ;  "  some  parade  ground,  I 
suppose  ?" 

"  Ay,  for  those  who  suffer  under  the  fire  of 
Master  Cupid.  A  parade  ground  !  well,  there  is 
some  artful  simplicity  in  that !  But  all  will  not  do 
with  an  old  campaigner.  It  is  a  difficult  thing  to 
impose  on  an  old  soldier,  my  water  battery.  Now 
listen  and  answer ;  and  you  shall  see  what  it  is  to 
possess  a  discernment — therefore  deny  nothing 
You  are  in  love  ?" 


THE    PILOT.  211 

"  I  deny  nothing,"  said  Manual,  comprehending 
at  once  that  this  was  his  safest  course. 

"  Your  mistress  is  willing,  and  the  money  is 
ready,  but  the  old  people  say  halt !" 

"  I  am  still  mute." 

"  'Tis  prudent.  You  say  march — Gretna  Green 
is  the  object ;  and  your  flight  is  to  be  by  water  ?" 

"  Unless  I  can  make  my  escape  by  water,  I 
shall  never  make  it,"  said  Manual,  with  ano 
ther  sympathetic  movement  with  his  hand  to  his 
throat. 

"  Keep  mute  ;  you  need  tell  me  nothing.  I 
can  see  into  a  mystery  that  is  as  deep  as  a  well, 
to-night.  Your  companions  are  hirelings ;  per 
haps  your  shipmates ;  or  men  to  pilot  you  on  this 
expedition  ?" 

"  One  is  my  shipmate,  and  the  other  is  our  pi 
lot,"  said  Manual,  with  more  truth  than  usual. 

"  You  are  well  provided.  One  thing  more,  and 
I  shall  become  mute  in  my  turn.  Does  she  whom 
you  seek  lie  in  this  house  ?" 

"  She  does  not ;  she  lies  but  a  short  distance 
from  this  place  ;  and  I  should  be  a  happy  fellow, 
could  I  but  once  more  put  foot — " 

"  Eyes  on  her.  Now  listen,  and  you  shall  have 
your  wish.  You  possess  the  ability  to  march  yet, 
which,  considering  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  is  no 
trifling  privilege  ;  open  that  window — is  it  possi 
ble  to  descend  from  it  ?" 

Manual  eagerly  complied,  but  he  turned  from 
the  place  in  disappointment. 

"  It  would  be  certain  death  to  attempt  the  leap. 
The  devil  only  could  escape  from  it." 

"  So  I  should  think,"  returned  Borroughcliffe 
dryly.  "  You  must  be  content  to  pass  for  that 
respectable  gentleman  for  the  rest  of  your  days, 
in  St.  Ruth's  Abbey.  For  through  that  identical 


212  THK    PILOT. 

hole  must  you  wing  your  flight  on  the  pinions  of 
love." 

"  But  how  !     The  thing  is  impossible.5' 

"  In  imagination  only.  There  is  some  stir ;  a 
good  deal  of  foolish  apprehension  ;  and  a  great  ex 
cess  of  idle  curiosity,  among  certain  of  the  tenants 
of  this  house  on  your  account.  They  fear  the  re 
bels,  who,  we  all  know,  have  not  soldiers  enough 
to  do  their  work  neatly  at  home,  and  who  of  course 
would  never  think  of  sending  any  here.  You  wish 
to  be  snug — I  wish  to  serve  a  brother  in  distress. 
Through  that  window  you  must  be  supposed  to 
fly — no  matter  how ;  while  by  following  me  you 
can  pass  the  sentinel,  and  retire  peaceably,  like  any 
other  mortal,  on  your  own  two  stout  legs." 

This  was  a  result  that  exceeded  all  that  Manual 
had  anticipated  from  their  amicable  but  droll  dia 
logue  ;  and  the  hint  was  hardly  given,  before  he 
threw  on  the  garments  that  agitation  had  before 
rendered  such  encumbrances,  and  in  less  time  than 
we  have  taken  to  relate  it,  the  marine  was  com 
pletely  equipped  for  his  departure.  In  the  mean 
time,  Captain  Borroughcliffe  raised  himself  to  an 
extremely  erect  posture,  which  he  maintained, 
with  the  inflexibility  of  a  rigid  martinet.  When 
he  found  himself  established  on  his  feet,  the  soldier 
intimated  to  his  prisoner  that  he  was  ready  to  pro 
ceed.  The  door  was  instantly  opened  by  Manual, 
and  together  they  entered  the  gallery. 

"  Who  comes  there  ?"  cried  the  sentinel,  with 
a  vigilance  and  vigour  that  he  intended  should 
compensate  for  his  previous  neglect  of  duty. 

"  Walk  straight,  that  he  may  see  you,"  said 
Borroughcliffe,  with  much  philosophy. 

"  Who  goes  there  ?"  repeated  the  sentinel, 
throwing  his  musket  to  a  poise,  with  a  rattling 
sound  that  echoed  along  the  naked  walls. 


THE    PILOT.  213 

«  Walk  crooked,"  added  Borrougheliffe,  " that 
if  he  fire  he  may  miss." 

"  We  shall  be  shot  at,  with  this  folly,"  mut 
tered  Manual.  "  We  are  friends,  and  your  officer 
is  one  of  us." 

"  Stand,  friends — advance  officer  and  give  the 
countersign,"  cried  the  sentinel. 

"  That  is  much  easier  said  than  done,"  returned 
his  captain ;  "  forward,  Mr.  Amphibious,  you  can 
walk  like  a  postman — move  to  the  front,  and  pro 
claim  the  magical  word,  ( loyalty  ;'  'tis  a  standing 
countersign,  ready  furnished  to  my  hands  by  mine 
host,  the  colonel ;  your  road  is  then  clear  before 
you — but  hark — " 

Manual  made  an  eager  step  forward,  when,  re 
collecting  himself,  he  turned,  and  added — 

"  My  assistants,  the  seamen  !  I  can  do  nothing 
without  them." 

"  Lo  !  the  keys  are  in  the  doors,  ready  for  my 
admission,"  said  the  Englishman  ;  "  turn  them  and 
bring  out  your  forces." 

Quick  as  thought,  Manual  was  in  the  room  of 
Griffith,  to  whom  he  briefly  communicated  the 
situation  of  things,  when  he  re-appeared  in  the 
passage,  and  then  proceeded  on  a  similar  errand  to 
the  room  of  the  Pilot. 

"  Follow,  and  behave  as  usual,"  he  whispered; 
"  say  not  a  word,  but  trust  all  to  me." 

The  Pilot  arose,  and  obeyed  these  instructions 
without  asking  a  question,  with  the  most  admira 
ble  coolness. 

"  I  am  now  ready  to  proceed,"  said  Manual, 
when  they  had  joined  Borroughcliife. 

During  the  short  time  occupied  in  these  arrange 
ments,  the  sentinel  and  his  captain  had  stood  look 
ing  at  each  other,  with  great  military  exactitude. 
The  former,  ambitious  of  manifesting  his  watchful- 


214  THE    PILOT. 

ness ;  the  latter  awaiting  the  return  of  the  marine- 
The  captain  now  beckoned  to  Manual  to  advance 
and  give  the  countersign. 

"  Loyalty,"  whispered  Manual,  when  he  ap 
proached  the  sentinel.  But  the  soldier  had  been 
allowed  time  to  reflect ;  and  as  he  well  understood 
the  situation  of  his  officer,  he  hesitated  to  allow 
the  prisoner  to  pass.  After  a  moment's  pause,  he 
said — 

"  Advance,  friends."  At  this  summons,  the 
whole  party  moved  to  the  point  of  his  bayonet ; 
when  the  man  continued,  "  The  prisoners  have  the 
countersign,  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  but  I  dare  not 
let  them  pass." 

"  Why  not  ?"  asked  the  captain  ;  "  am  I  not 
here,  sirrah  ;  do  you  not  know  me  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  know  your  honour,  and  respect 
your  honour ;  but  I  was  posted  here  by  my  ser 
geant,  and  ordered  not  to  let  these  men  pass  out 
on  any  account." 

"  That's  what  I  call  good  discipline,"  said 
Borroughcliffe,  with  an  exulting  laugh  ;  "  I  knew 
the  lad  would  not  mind  me  any  more  than  that  he 
would  obey  the  orders  of  that  lamp.  Here  are 
no  slaves  of  the  lamp,  my  amphibious  comrade ; 
drill  ye  your  marines  in  this  consummate  style  to 
niceties  ?" 

"  What  means  this  trifling  ?"  said  the  Pilot, 
sternly. 

"  Ah  !  1  thought  I  should  turn  the  laugh  on 
you,"  cried  Manual,  affecting  to  join  in  the  mirth  ; 
u  we  know  all  these  things  well,  and  we  practise 
them  in  our  corps  ;  but  though  the  sentinel  can 
not  know  you,  the  sergeant  will ;  so  let  him  bo 
called,  and  orders  be  given  through  him  to  the  man 
on  post,  that  we  may  pass  out." 

"  Your  throat  grows  uneasy,  I  see,"  said  Boi 


THE    PILOT.  215 

roughcliffe  ;  "  you  crave  another  bottle  of  the 
generous  fluid.  Well,  it  shall  be  done.  Sentinel, 
you  can  throw  up  yon  window,  and  give  a  call  to 
the  sergeant.'' 

"  The  outcry  will  ruin  us,"  said  the  Pilot,  in  a 
whisper  to  Griffith. 

"  Follow  me,"  said  the  young  sailor.  The  sen 
tinel  was  turning  to  execute  the  orders  of  his  cap 
tain,  as  Griffith  spoke  ;  when  springing  forward, 
in  an  instant  he  wrenched  the  musket  from  his 
hands  ;  a  heavy  blow  with  its  butt  felled  the  as 
tonished  soldier  to  the  floor;  then,  poising  his 
weapon,  Griffith  exclaimed — 

"  Forward  !  we  can  clear  our  own  way  now  !" 

"  On  !"  said  the  Pilot,  leaping  lightly  over  the 
prostrate  soldier,  a  dagger  gleaming  in  one  hand, 
and  a  pistol  presented  in  the  other. 

Manual  was  by  his  side  in  an  instant,  armed  in  a 
similar  manner ;  and  the  three  rushed  together 
from  the  building,  without  meeting  any  one  to  op 
pose  their  flight. 

Borroughcliife  was  utterly  unable  to  follow ;  and 
so  astounded  was  he  by  this  sudden  violence,  that 
several  minutes  passed  before  he  was  restored  to 
the  use  of  his  speech,  a  faculty  which  seldom  de 
serted  him.  The  man  had  recovered  his  senses 
and  his  feet,  however  ;  and  the  two  stood  gazing 
at  each  other  in  mute  condolence.  At  length  the 
sentinel  broke  the  silence — 

"  Shall  I  give  the  alarm,  your  honour  ?" 

"  I  rather  think  not,  Peters.  I  wonder  if  there 
be  any  such  thing  as  gratitude  or  good  breeding  in 
the  marine  corps  !" 

"  I  hope  your  honour  will  remember  that  I  did 
my  duty,  and  that  I  was  disarmed  while  executing 
your  orders." 

ct  I  can  remember  nothing  about  it,  Peters,  ex- 


216  THE    PILOT. 

cept  that  it  is  rascally  treatment,  and  such  as  I  shall 
yet  make  that  amphibious,  aquatic  gentleman  an 
swer  for.  But,  lock  the  door — look  as  if  nothing 
had  happened,  and — " 

"  Ah !  your  honour,  that  is  not  so  easily  done 
as  your  honour  may  please  to  think.  I  have  not 
any  doubt  but  there  is  the  print  of  the  breech  of 
a  musket  stamped  on  my  back  and  shoulders,  as 
plainly  to  be  seen  as  that  light." 

"  Then  look  as  you  please  ;  but  hold  your  peace, 
sirrah.  Here  is  a  crown  to  buy  a  plaster.  I  heard 
the  dog  throw  away  your  musket  on  the  stairs — 
go  seek  it,  and  return  to  your  post ;  and  when  you 
are  relieved,  act  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  I 
take  the  responsibility  on  myself." 

The  man  obeyed,  and  when  he  was  once  more 
armed,  Borroughcliffe,  a  good  deal  sobered  by  the 
surprise,  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  his  own 
apartment,  muttering  threats  and  execrations  against 
the  "  corps  of  marines,  and  the  whole  race,"  as  he 
called  them,  "  of  aquatic  amphibii." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


*  Away  !  awayl  the  covey's  fled  the  cover 
Pnt  forth  the  dogs,  and  let  the  falcon  fly — 
I'll  spend  some  leisure  in  the  keen  pursuit, 
Hot  longer  waste  my  hours  in  sluggish  quiet/ 


THE  soldier  passed  the  remainder  of  the  nigh, 
in  the  heavy  sleep  of  a  bacchanalian,  and  awoke 
late  on  the  following  morning,  only  when  aroused 
by  the  entrance  of  his  servant  When  the  cus 
tomary  summons  had  induced  the  captain  to  un 
close  his  eyelids,  he  arose  in  his  bed,  and  after 
performing  the  usual  operation  of  a  diligent  fric 
tion  on  his  organs  of  vision,  he  turned  sternly  to 
his  man,  and  remarked,  with  an  ill-humour  that 
seemed  to  implicate  the  innocent  servant  in  the 
fault  which  his  master  condemned — 

"  I  thought,  sirrah,  that  I  ordered  Sergeant 
Drill  not  to  let  a  drum-stick  touch  a  sheep-skin 
while  we  quartered  in  the  dwelling  of  this  hospi 
table  old  colonel!  Does  the  fellow  despise  my 
commands ;  or  does  he  think  the  roll  of  a  drum, 
echoing  through  the  crooked  passages  of  St.  Ruth, 
a  melody  that  is  fit  to  disturb  the  slumbers  of  its 
inmates !" 

"  I  believe,  sir,"  returned  the  man,  "  it  was  the 
wish  of  Col.  Howard  himself,  that  on  this  occasion 
the  sergeant  should  turn  out  the  guard  by  the  roll 
of  the  drum." 

19 


218  THE    PILOT. 

"  The  devil  it  was  ! — I  see  the  old  fellow  loves 
to  tickle  the  drum  of  his  own  ear  now  and  then, 
with  familiar  sounds  ;  but  have  you  had  a  muster 
of  the  cattle  from  the  farm-yard  too,  as  well  as  a 
parade  of  the  guard  ?  1  hear  the  trampling  of  feet, 
as  if  the  old  Abbey  were  a  second  ark,  and  all 
the  beasts  of  the  field  were  coming  aboard  of  us  !" 

"  'Tis  nothing  but  the  party  of  dragoons  from 

,  who  are  wheeling  into  the  court-yard,  sir, 

where  the  colonel  has  gone  out  to  receive  them." 

"  Court-yard  !  light  dragoons !"  repeated  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  in  amazement ;  "  and  has  it  come  to 
this,  that  twenty  stout  fellows  of  the  — th  are  not 
enough  to  guard  such  a  rookery  as  this  old  Abbey, 
against  the  ghosts  and  north-east  storms,  but  we 
must  have  horse  to  reinforce  us.  Hum  !  I  sup 
pose  some  of  these  booted  gentlemen  have  heard 
of  this  South-Carolina  Madeira." 

"  Oh,  no,  sir  !"  cried  his  man,  "  it  is  only  the 
party  that  Mr.  Dillon  went  to  seek  last  evening, 
after  you  saw  fit,  sir,  to  put  the  three  pirates  in 
irons." 

"  Pirates  in  irons !"  said  Borroughcliffe,  again 
passing  his  hands  over  his  eyes,  though  in  a  more 
reflecting  manner  than  before  ;  "  ha !  oh  f  I  re 
member  to  have  put  three  suspicious  looking  ras 
cals  in  the  black-hole,  or  some  such  place  ;  but 
what  can  Mr.  Dillon,  or  the  light  dragoons,  have 
to  do  with  these  fellows  ?" 

"  That  we  do  not  know,  sir ;  but  it  is  said  be 
low,  sir,  as  some  suspicions  had  fallen  on  their  be 
ing  conspirators  and  rebels  from  the  colonies,  and 
that  they  were  great  officers  and  tories  in  disguise  , 
some  said  that  one  was  General  Washington,  and 
others,  that  it  was  only  three  members  of  the 
Yankee  parliament,  come  over  to  get  our  good  old 
English  fashions  to  set  themselves  up  with." 


THE    PILOT.  219 

"  Washington  !  Members  of  Congress  !  Go — . 
go,  simpleton,  and  learn  how  many  these  troopers 
muster,  and  what  halt  they  make ;  but  stay,  place 
my  clothes  near  me.  Now,  do  as  I  bid  you ;  and 
if  the  dragoon  officer  inquire  for  me,  make  my  re 
spects,  and  tell  him  I  shall  be  with  him  soon.  Go, 
fellow;  go." 

When  the  man  left  the  room,  the  captain,  while 
he  proceeded  with  the  business  of  the  toilet,  oc 
casionally  gave  utterance  to  the  thoughts  that 
crowded  on  his  recollection,  after  the  manner  of  a 
soliloquy. 

"  Ay !  my  commission  to  a  half-pay  ensigncy, 
that  some  of  these  lazy  fellows,  who  must  have  a 
four-legged  beast  to  carry  them  to  the  wars,  have 
heard  of  the  '  south  side.'  South  side  !  I  believe 
I  must  put  an  advertisement  in  the  London  Ga 
zette,  calling  that  amphibious  soldier  to  an  ac 
count.  If  he  be  a  true  man,  he  will  not  hide  himself 
under  his  incognito,  but  will  give  me  a  meeting.  If 
that  should  fail,  damme,  I'll  ride  across  to  Yar 
mouth,  and  call  out  the  first  of  the  mongrel  breed 
that  I  fall  in  with.  'Sdeath  !  was  ever  such  an  in 
sult  practised  on  a  gentleman,  and  a  soldier,  be 
fore  !  Would  that  I  only  knew  his  name  !  Why, 
if  the  tale  should  get  abroad,  I  shall  be  the  stand 
ing  joke  of  the  mess-table",  until  some  greater  fool 
than  myself  can  be  found.  It  would  cost  me  at 
least  six  duels  to  get  rid  of  it.  No,  no  ;  not  a  trig 
ger  will  1  pull  in  my  own  regiment  about  the  silly 
affair ;  but  I'll  have  a  crack  at  some  marine  in  very 
revenge ;  for  that  is  no  more  than  reasonable. 
That  Peters  !  if  the  scoundrel  should  dare  whisper 
any  thing  of  the  manner  in  which  he  wras  stan/ped 
with  the  breech  of  the  musket !  I  can't  flog  him 
for  it,  but  if  I  don't  make  it  up  to  him,  the  hrsf 


220  THE    PILOT. 

time  he  gives  me  a  chance,  I  am  ignorant  of  the 
true  art  of  balancing  regimental  accounts." 

By  the  time  the  recruiting  officer  had  concluded 
this  soliloquy,  which  affords  a  very  fair  exposition 
of  the  current  of  his  thoughts,  he  was  prepared  to 
•meet  the  new  comers,  and  he  accordingly  descend 
ed  to  the  court-yard,  as  in  duty  bound,  to  receive 
them  in  his  proper  person.  Borroughcliffe  en 
countered  his  host,  in  earnest  conversation  with  a 
young  man  in  a  cavalry  uniform,  in  the  principal 
entrance  of  the  Abbey,  and  was  greeted  by  the 
former  with — 

"  A  good  morning  to  you,  my  worthy  guard 
and  protector  !  here  is  rare  news  for  your  loyal 
ears.  It  seems  that  our  prisoners  are  enemies  to 
the  king,  in  disguise ;  and  Cornet  Fitzgerald — 

Captain  Borroughcliffe,  of  the th,  permit  me 

to  make  you  acquainted  with  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  of  the 
th  Light  Dragoons."  While  the  soldiers  ex 
changed  their  salutations,  the  old  man  continued — 
"  The  cornet  has  been  kind  enough  to  lead  down  a 
detachment  of  his  troop,  to  escort  the  rogues  up  to 
London,  or  some  other  place,  where  they  will  find 
enough  good  and  loyal  officers  to  form  a  court  mar 
tial,  that  can  authorize  their  execution  as  spies. 
Christopher  Dillon,  my  worthy  kinsman,  Kit,  saw 
into  their  real  characters,  at  a  glance,  while  you 
and  I,  like  two  unsuspecting  boys,  thought  the  ras 
cals  would  have  made  fit  men  to  serve  the  king. 
But  Kit  has  an  eye  and  a  head  that  few  enjoy  like 
him,  and  I  would  that  he  might  receive  his  dues  at 
the  English  bar." 

"  It  is  to  be  desired,  sir,"  said  Borroughcliffe, 
with  a  grave  aspect,  that  was  produced  chiefly  by 
his  effort  to  give  effect  to  his  sarcasm,  but  a  little, 
also,  by  the  recollection  of  the  occurrences  that 
were  yet  to  be  explained  ;  "  but  what  reason  has 


THE    PILOT.  221 

Mr.  Christopher  Dillon  to  believe  that  the  three 
seamen  are  more  or  less  than  they  seem  ?" 

"  I  know  not  what ;  but  a  good  and  sufficient 
reason,  I  will  venture  my  life,"  cried  the  colonel ; 
"  Kit  is  a  lad  for  reasons,  which  you  know  is  the 
foundation  of  his  profession,  and  knows  how  to  de 
liver  them  manfully  in  the  proper  place  ;  but  you 
know,  gentlemen,  that  the  members  of  the  bar 
cannot  assume  the  open  and  bold  front  that  be 
comes  a  soldier,  without  often  endangering  the 
cause  in  which  they  are  concerned.  No,  no  ;  trust 
me,  Kit  has  his  reasons,  and  in  good  time  will  he 
deliver  them." 

"  I  hope,  then,"  said  the  captain,  carelessly, 
"  that  it  may  be  found  that  we  have  had  a  proper 
watch  on  our  charge,  Col.  Howard ;  I  think  you 
told  me  the  windows  were  too  high  for  an  escape 
in  that  direction,  for  I  had  no  sentinel  outside  of 
the  building." 

"  Fear  nothing,  my  worthy  friend,"  cried  his 
host ;  "  unless  your  men  have  slept,  instead  of 
watching,  we  have  them  safe  ;  but,  as  it  will  be 
necessary  to  convey  them  away  before  any  of  the 
civil  authority  can  lay  hands  on  them,  let  us  pro 
ceed  to  the  rear,  and  unkennel  the  dogs.  A  party 

of  the  horse  might  proceed  with  them  to , 

while  we  are  breaking  our  fasts.  It  would  be  no 
wise  thing  to  let  the  civilians  deal  with  them,  for 
they  seldom  have  a  true  idea  of  the  nature  of  the 
crime." 

"  Pardon  me,  sir,"  said  the  young  officer  of 
horse  ;  "  I  was  led  to  believe,  by  Mr.  Dillon,  that 
we  might  meet  writh  a  party  of  the  enemy  in  some 
little  force,  and  that  I  should  find  a  pleasanterduty 
than  that  of  a  constable  ;  besides,  sir,  the  laws  of 
the  realm  guaranty  to  the  subject  a  trial  by  his 
peers,  and  it  is  more  than  I  dare  do  to  carry  the 
19* 


222  THE    PILOT. 

men  to  the  barracks,  without  first  taking  them  be 
fore  a  magistrate." 

"  Ay  !  you  speak  of  loyal  and  dutiful  subjects," 
said  the  colonel ;  "  and,  as  respects  them,  doubt 
less,  you  are  right ;  but  such  privileges  are  with 
held  from  enemies  and  traitors." 

"  It  must  be  first  proved  that  they  are  such,  be 
fore  they  can  receive  the  treatment  or  the  punish 
ment  that  they  merit,"  returned  the  young  man,  a 
little  positively,  who  felt  the  more  confidence,  be 
cause  he  had  only  left  the  Temple  the  year  be 
fore.  "  If  I  take  charge  of  the  men  at  all,  it  will 
be  only  to  transfer  them  safely  to  the  civil  autho 
rity." 

"  Let  us  go  and  see  the  prisoners,"  cried  Bor 
roughcliffe,  with  a  view  to  terminate  a  discussion 
that  was  likely  to  wax  warm,  and  which  he  knew 
to  be  useless ;  "  perhaps  they  may  quietly  enrol 
themselves  under  the  banners  of  our  sovereign, 
when  all  other  interference,  save  that  of  whole 
some  discipline,  will  become  unnecessary." 

"  Nay,  if  they  are  of  a  rank  in  life  to  render 
such  a  step  probable,"  returned  the  cornet,  "  I  am 
well  content  that  the  matter  should  be  thus  set 
tled.  I  trust,  however,  that  Captain  Borrough- 

cliffe  will  consider  that  the th  light  dragoons 

has  some  merit  in  this  affair,  and  that  we  are  far 
short  of  our  numbers  in  the  second  squadron." 

"  We  shall  not  be  difficult  at  a  compromise," 
returned  the  captain ;  "  there  is  one  a-piece  for 
us,  and  a  toss  of  a  guinea  shall  determine  who  has 
the  third  man.  Sergeant !  follow,  to  deliver  over 
your  prisoners,  and  relieve  your  sentry." 

As  they  proceeded,  in  compliance  with  this  ar 
rangement,  to  the  building  in  the  rear,  Colonel 
Howard,  who  made  one  of  the  party,  observed — 

u  1  dispute  not  the  penetration  of  Captain  Bor- 


THE    PILOT.  223 

roughcliffe,  but  I  understand  Mr.  Christopher  Dil 
lon  lhat  there  is  reason  to  believe  one  of  these 
men,  at  least,  to  be  of  a  class  altogether  above  that 
of  a  common  soldier,  in  which  case  your  plans  may 
fall  to  the  ground." 

"  And  who  does  he  deem  the  gentleman  to  be  ?" 
asked  Borroughcliffe — "  A  Bourbon  in  disguise, 
or  a  secret  representative  of  the  rebel  congress  ?" 
"  Nay,  nay ;  he  said  nothing  more  ;  my  kins 
man  Kit  keeps  a  close  mouth,  whenever  Dame 
Justice  is  about  to  balance  her  scales.  There  are 
men  who  may  be  said  to  have  been  born  to  be  sol 
diers  ;  of  which  number  I  should  call  the  Earl 
Cornwallis,  who  makes  such  head  against  the  re 
bels  in  the  two  Carolinas ;  others  seem  to  be  in 
tended  by  nature  for  divines,  and  saints  on  earth, 
such  as  their  Graces  of  York  and  Canterbury; 
while  another  class  appear  as  if  it  were  impossible 
for  them  to  behold  things,  unless  with  discriminat 
ing,  impartial,  and  disinterested  eyes  ;  to  which,  I 
should  say,  belong  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  Mans 
field,  and  my  kinsman,  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon.  I 
trust,  gentlemen,  that  when  the  royal  arms  have 
crushed  this  rebellion,  that  his  majesty's  ministers 
will  see  the  propriety  of  extending  the  dignity  of 
the  peerage  to  the  colonies,  as  a  means  of  reward 
to  the  loyal,  and  a  measure  of  policy,  to  prevent 
future  disaffection  ;  in  which  case,  I  hope  to  see 
my  kinsman  decorated  with  the  ermine  of  justice, 
bordering  the  mantle  of  a  peer." 

"  Your  expectations,  my  excellent  sir,  are  right 
reasonable,  as  I  doubt  not  your  kinsman  will  be 
come,  at  some  future  day,  that  which  he  is  not  at 
E resent,  unhappily  for  his  deserts,  right  honoura 
le,"  said  Borroughcliffe.     "  But  be  of  good  heart, 
sir ;  from  what  I  have  seen  of  his  merits,  I  doubt 
not  that  the  law  will  yet  have  its  revenge  in  due 


224  THE    PILOT. 

season,  and  that  we  shall  be  properly  edified  and 
instructed  how  to  attain  elevation  in  life,  by  the 
future  exaltation  of  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon  ;  though 
by  what  title  he  is  to  be  then  known,  I  am  at  a  loss 
to  say." 

Colonel  Howard  was  too  much  occupied  with 
his  own  ex  parte  views  of  the  war  and  things  in- 
general,  to  observe  the  shrewd  looks  that  were 
exchanged  between  the  soldiers ;  but  he  answered 
with  perfect  simplicity — 

"  I  have  reflected  much  on  that  point,  and  have 
come  to  the  opinion,  that  as  he  has  a  small  estate 
on  that  river,  he  should  cause  his  first  barony  ta 
be  known  by  the  title  of '  Pedee.' J? 

"  Barony  !"  echoed  Borroughcliffe  ;  ct  I  trust 
the  new  nobles  of  a  new  world  will  disdain  the 
old  worn  out  distinctions  of  a  hackneyed  universe 
— eschew  all  baronies,  mine  host,  and  cast  earl 
doms  and  dukedoms  to  the  shades.  The  immor 
tal  Locke  has  unlocked  his  fertile  mind  to  furnish 
you  with  appellations  suited  to  the  originality  of 
your  condition,  and  the  nature  of  your  country- 
Ah  !  here  comes  the  Cacique  of  Pedee,  in  his  pro 
per  person  !" 

As  Borroughcliffe  spoke,  they  were  ascending 
the  flight  of  stone  steps  which  led  to  the  uppei 
apartments,  where  the  prisoners  were  still  sup 
posed  to  be  confined  ;  and,  at  the  same  moment, 
the  sullen,  gloomy  features  of  Dillon  were  seen  as 
he  advanced  along  the  lower  passage,  with  an  ex 
pression  of  malicious  exultation  hovering  above  his 
dark  brow,  that  denoted  his  secret  satisfaction, 
As  the  hours  had  passed  away,  the  period  had 
come  round  when  the  man  who  had  been  present 
at  the  escape  of  Griffith  and  his  friends,  was  again 
posted  to  perform  the  duty  of  sentinel.  As  this 
soldier  well  knew  the  situation  of  his  trust,  he  was 


THE    PILOT.  225 

very  coolly  adjusted,  with  his  back  against  the 
wall,  endeavouring  to  compensate  himself  for  his 
disturbed  slumbers  during  the  night,  when  the 
sounds  of  the  approaching  footsteps  warned  him  to 
assume  the  appearance  of  watchfulness. 

"  How  now,  fellow  !"  cried  Borroughcliffe  ; 
'<  what  have  you  to  say  to  your  charge  ?" 

"  I  believe  the  men  sleep,  your  honour  ;  for  I 
have  heard  no  noises  from  the  rooms  since  I  re 
lieved  the  last  sentinel." 

"  The  lads  are  weary,  and  are  right  to  catch 
what  sleep  they  can  in  their  comfortable  quarters," 
returned  the  captain.  "  Stand  to  your  arms,  sir 
rah  !  and  throw  back  your  shoulders  ;  and  do  not 
move  like  a  crab,  or  a  train-band  corporal ;  do  you 
not  see  an  officer  of  horse  coming  up  ?  Would 
you  disgrace  your  regiment !" 

"  Ah  !  your  honour,  heaven  only  knows  whe 
ther  I  shall  ever  get  my  shoulders  even  again." 

"  Buy  another  plaster,"  said  Borroughcliffe, 
slipping  a  shilling  into  his  hand ;  "  observe,  you 
know  nothing  but  your  duty." 

"  Which  is,  your  honour — " 

"  To  mind  me  and  be  silent.  But  here  comes 
the  sergeant  with  his  guard,  he  wTill  relieve  you." 

The  rest  of  the  party  had  stopped  at  the  other 
end  of  the  gallery,  to  allow  the  few  files  of  sol 
diers,  who  were  led  by  the  orderly,  to  pass  them, 
when  they  all  moved  toward  the  prisons  in  a  body. 
The  sentinel  was  relieved  in  due  military  style ; 
when  Dillon  placed  his  hand  on  one  of  the  doors, 
and  said,  with  a  malicious  sneer, 

"  Open  here  first,  Mr.  Sergeant ;  this  cage  holds 
the  man  wre  most  want." 

"  Softly,  softly,  my  Lord  Chief  Justice,  and 
most  puissant  Cacique,"  said  the  captain ;  "  the 
hour  has  not  yet  come  to  empannel  a  jury  of  fat 


22G  THE    PILOT. 

yeomen,  and  no  man  must  interfere  with  my  boys 
but  myself." 

"  The  rebuke  is  harsh,  I  must  observe,  Captain 
Borroughcliffe,"  said  the  colonel ;  "  but  I  pardon 
it  because  it  is  military.  No,  no,  Kit ;  these  nice 
points  must  be  left  to  martial  usages.  Be  not  im 
patient,  my  cousin  ;  I  doubt  not  the  hoiy  will  come, 
when  you  shall  hold  the  scales  of  justice,  and  sa 
tisfy  your  loyal  longings  on  many  a  traitor.  Zounds  ! 
I  could  almost  turn  executioner  myself  in  such  a 
cause  !" 

"  I  can  curb  my  impatience,  sir,"  returned  Dil 
lon,  with  hypocritical  meekness,  and  great  self- 
command,  though  his  eyes  were  gleaming  with 
savage  exultation.  "  I  beg  pardon  of  Captain 
Borroughcliffe,  if,  in  my  desire  to  render  the  civil 
authority  superior  to  the  military,  I  have  tres 
passed  on  your  customs." 

"  You  see,  Borroughcliffe  !"  exclaimed  the  co 
lonel,  exultingly,  "  the  lad  is  ruled  by  an  instinct 
in  all  matters  of  law  and  justice.  I  hold  it  to  be 
impossible  that  a  man  thus  endowed  can  ever  be 
come  a  disloyal  subject.  But  our  breakfast  waits, 
and  Mr.  Fitzgerald  has  breathed  his  horse  this 
cool  morning ;  let  us  proceed  at  once  to  the  exa 
mination." 

Borroughcliffe  motioned  to  the  sergeant  to  open 
the  door,  when  the  whole  party  entered  the  va 
cant  room. 

"  Your  prisoner  has  escaped  !"  cried  the  cor 
net,  after  a  single  moment  employed  in  making 
sure  of  the  fact. 

"  Never !  it  must  not,  shall  not  be,"  cried  Dil 
lon,  quivering  with  rage,  as  he  glanced  his  eyes 
furiously  around  the  apartment ;  "  here  has  been 
treachery  !  and  foul  treason  to  the  king  !" 

"  By  whom  committed,  Mr.  Christopher  Dil 


THE    PILOT.  227 

Ion  ?"  said  Borroughcliffe,  knitting  his  brow,  and 
speaking  in  a  suppressed  tone  :  "  dare  you,  or  any 
man  living,  charge  treason  to  the th  !" 

A  very  different  feeling  from  rage  appeared  now 
to  increase  the  shivering  propensities  of  the  future 
judge,  who  at  once  perceived  it  was  necessary  to 
moderate  his  passion,  and  he  returned,  as  it  were 
by  magic,  to  his  former  plausible  and  insinuating 
manner,  as  he  replied — 

"  Colonel  Howard  will  understand  the  cause  of 
my  warm  feelings,  when  I  tell  him  that  this  very 
room  contained,  last  night,  that  disgrace  to  his 
name  and  country,  as  well  as  traitor  to  his  king, 
Edward  Griffith,  of  the  rebel  navy." 

"  What !"  exclaimed  the  colonel,  starting,  "  has 
that  recreant  youth  dared  to  pollute  the  threshold 
of  St.  Ruth  with  his  footstep  !  but  you  dream, 
Kit ;  there  would  be  too  much  hardihood  in  the  act." 

"  It  appears  not,  sir,"  returned  the  other ;  "  for 
though  in  this  very  apartment  he  most  certainly 
was,  he  is  here  no  longer.  And  yet  from  this 
window,  though  open,  escape  would  seem  to  be 
impossible,  even  with  much  assistance." 

"  If  I  thought  that  the  contumelious  boy  had 
dared  to  be  guilty  of  such  an  act  of  gross  impu 
dence,"  cried  the  colonel,  "  I  should  be  tempted 
to  resume  my  arms,  in  my  old  age,  to  punish  his 
effrontery.  What !  it  is  not  enough  that  he  en 
tered  my  dwelling  in  the  colony* availing  himself 
of  the  distraction  of  the  times,  with  an  intent  to 
rob  me  of  my  choicest  jewel,  ay  !  gentlemen,  even 
of  my  brother  Harry's  daughter — but  that  he  must 
also  invade  this  hallowed  island,  with  a  like  pur 
pose,  thus  thrusting  his  treason,  as  it  were,  into 
the  presence  of  his  abused  prince !  No,  no,  Kit, 
thy  loyalty  misleads  thee  ;  he  has  never  dared  to 
do  the  deed  !" 


228  THE    PILOT. 

"  Listen,  sir,  and  you  shall  be  convinced,"  re 
turned  the  pliant  Christopher.  "  I  do  not  wondef 
at  your  unbelief;  but  as  good  testimony  is  the 
soul  of  justice,  I  cannot  resist  its  influence.  You 
know,  that  two  vessels,  corresponding  in  appear 
ance  to  the  two  rebel  cruisers  that  annoyed  us  so 
much  in  the  Carolinas,  have  been  seen  on  the  coast 
for  several  days,  which  induced  us  to  beg  the  pro 
tection  of  Captain  Borroughcliffe.  Three  men  are 
found,  the  day  succeeding  that  on  which  we  hear 
that  these  vessels  came  within  the  shoals,  stealing, 
through  the  grounds  of  St.  Ruth,  in  sailors'  attire, 
They  are  arrested,  and  in  the  voice  of  one  of  them, 
sir,  I  immediately  detected  that  of  the  traitor  Grif 
fith.  He  was  disguised,  it  is  true,  and  cunningly 
so ;  but  when  a  man  has  devoted  his  whole  life  to- 
the  business  of  investigating  truth,"  he  added,  with, 
an  air  of  much  modesty,  "  it  is  difficult  to  palm 
any  disguise  on  his  senses." 

Col.  Howard  was  strongly  impressed  with  the 
probability  of  these  conjectures,  and  the  closing 
appeal  confirmed  him  immediately  in  his  kinsman's 
opinion,  while  Borroughcliffe  listened,  with  deep 
interest,  to  the  speakers,  and  more  than  once  bit 
his  lip  with  vexation.  When  Dillon  concluded  the 
soldier  exclaimed — 

"  I'll  swear  there  was  a  man  among  them,  who- 
has  been  used  to  the  drill." 

"  Nothing  more  probable,  my  worthy  friend," 
said  Dillon  ;  "  for  as  the  landing  was  never  made 
without  some  evil  purpose,  rely  on  it,  he  came  not 
unguarded  or  unprotected.  I  dare  say,  the  three 
were  all  officers,  and  one  of  them  might  have  been 
of  the  marines.  That  they  had  assistance  is  cer 
tain,  and  it  was  because  I  felt  assured  they  had  a 
force  secreted  at  hand,  that  I  went  in  quest  of  the 
reinforcement." 


THE    PILOT. 

There  was  so  much  plausibility,  and,  in  fact,  so 
much  truth  in  all  this,  that  conviction  was  unwil 
lingly  admitted  by  Borroughcliffe,  who  walked 
aside,  a  moment,  to  conceal  the  confusion  which, 
in  spite  of  his  ordinary  inflexibility  of  countenance, 
he  felt  was  manifesting  itself  in  his  rubric  visage, 
while  he  muttered — 

"  The  amphibious  dog  !  he  was  a  soldier,  but  a 
traitor  and  an  enemy  No  doubt  he  will  have  a 
marvellous  satisfaction  in  delighting  the  rebellious 
ears  of  his  messmates,  by  rehearsing  the  manner 
in  which  he  poured  cold  water  down  the  back  of 

one  Borroughcliffe,  of  the th,  who  was  amusing 

him,  at  the  same  time,  by  pouring  good,  rich,  south- 
side  Madeira  down  his  own  rebellious  throat.  I 
have  a  good  mind  to  exchange  my  scarlet  coat  for 
a  blue  jacket,  on  purpose  to  meet  the  sly  rascal  on 
the  other  element,  where  we  can  discuss  the  mat 
ter  over  again.  Well,  sergeant,  do  you  find  the 
other  two  ?" 

"  They  are  gone  together,  your  honour,"  re 
turned  the  orderly,  who  just  then  re-entered  from 
an  examination  of  the  other  apartments ;  "  and 
unless  the  evil  one  helped  them  off,  it's  a  myste 
rious  business  to  me." 

"  Colonel  Howard,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  grave 
ly,  "  your  precious  south-side  cordial  must  be  ba 
nished  from  the  board,  regularly  with  the  cloth,  un 
til  I  have  my  revenge  ;  for  satisfaction  of  this  in 
sult  is  mine  to  claim,  and  I  seek  it  this  instant. 
Go,  Drill ;  detail  a  guard  for  the  protection  of  the 
house,  and  feed  the  rest  of  your  command,  then 
beat  the  general,  and  we  will  take  the  field.  Ay  ! 
my  worthy  veteran  host,  for  the  first  time  since  the 
days  of  the  unlucky  Charles  Stuart,  there  shall  be 
a  campaign  in  the  heart  of  England." 

"  Ah  !  rebellion,  rebellion  !  accursed,  unnatural, 
20 


230  THE    PILOT 

unholy  rebellion,  caused  the  calamity  then  and 
now  !"  exclaimed  the  colonel. 

"  Had  I  not  better  take  a  hasty  refreshment  for 
my  men  and  their  horses  ?"  asked  the  cornet ; 
"  and  then  make  a  sweep  for  a  few  miles  along  the 
coast  ?  It  may  be  my  luck  to  encounter  the  fugi 
tives,  or  some  part  of  their  force." 

"  You  have  anticipated  my  very  thoughts,"  re 
turned  Borroughcliffe.  "  The  Cacique  of  Pedee 
may  close  the  gates  of  St.  Ruth,  and,  by  barring 
the  windows,  and  arming  the  servants,  he  can 
make  a  very  good  defence  against  an  attack,  should 
they  think  proper  to  assail  our  fortress ;  after  he 
has  repulsed  them,  leave  it  to  me  to  cut  off  their 
retreat." 

Dillon  but  little  relished  this  proposal ;  for  he 
thought  an  attempt  to  storm  the  Abbey  would  be 
the  most  probable  course  adopted  by  Griffith,  in 
order  to  rescue  his  mistress  ;  and  the  jurist  had 
none  of  the  spirit  of  a  soldier  in  his  composition, 
In  truth,  it  was  this  deficiency  that  had  induced 
him  to  depart  in  person,  the  preceding  night,  in 
quest  of  the  reinforcement,  instead  of  sending  an 
express  on  the  errand.  But  the  necessity  of  de 
vising  an  excuse  for  a  change  in  this  dangerous 
arrangement,  was  obviated  by  Colonel  Howard, 
who  exclaimed,  as  soon  as  Borroughcliffe  con 
cluded  his  plan — 

"  To  me,  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  belongs,  of 
right,  the  duty  of  defending  St.  Ruth,  and  it  shall 
be  no  boy's  play  to  force  my  works  ;  but  Kit  would 
rather  try  his  chance  in  the  open  field,  I  know. 
Come,  let  us  to  our  breakfast,  and  then  he  shall 
mount,  and  act  as  a  guide  to  the  horse,  along  the 
difficult  passes  of  the  seashore." 

"  To  breakfast  then  let  it  be,"  cried  the  captain ; 
11 1  distrust  not  my  new  commander  of  the  fortress , 


THE     PILOT.  231 

and  in  the  field-  Cacique  for  ever !     We  follow 
you,  my  worthy  host." 

This  arrangement  was  hastily  executed  in  all  its 
parts.  The  gentlemen  swallowed  their  meal  in 
the  manner  of  men  who  ate  only  to  sustain  nature, 
and  as  a  duty ;  after  which  the  whole '  house  be 
came  a  scene  of  bustling  activity.  The  troops 
were  mustered  and  paraded ;  Borroughclifie,  set 
ting  apart  a  guard  for  the  building,  placed  himself 
at  the  head  of  the  remainder  of  his  little  party,  and 
they  moved  out  of  the  court-yard  in  open  order, 
and  at  quick  time.  Dillon  joyfully  beheld  himself 
mounted  on  one  of  the  best  of  Colonel  Howard's 
hunters,  where  he  knew  that  he  had  the  control, 
in  a  great  measure,  of  his  own  destiny  ;  his  bosom 
throbbing  with  a  powerful  desire  to  destroy  Grif 
fith,  while  he  entertained  a  lively  wish  to  effect 
his  object  without  incurring  any  personal  risk.  At 
his  side  was  the  young  cornet,  seated  with  prac 
tised  grace  in  his  saddle,  who,  after  giving  time  for 
the  party  of  foot,  soldiers  to  clear  the  premises, 
glanced  his  eye  along  the  few  files  he  led,  and 
then  gave  the  word  to  move.  The  little  division 
of  horse  wheeled  briskly  into  open  column,  and, 
the  officer  touching  his  cap  to  Colonel  Howard, 
they  dashed  through  the  gateway  together,  and 
pursued  their  route  towards  the  seaside,  at  a  hand 
gallop. 

The  veteran  lingered  a  few  minutes,  while  the 
clattering  of  hoofs  was  to  be  heard,  or  the  gleam 
of  arms  was  visible,  to  hear  and  gaze  at  sounds  and 
sights  that  he  still  loved ;  after  which  he  proceed 
ed,  in  person,  and  not  without  a  secret  enjoyment 
of  the  excitement,  to  barricade  the  doors  and  win 
dows,  with  an  undaunted  determination  of  making, 
in  case  of  need,  a  stout  defence. 

St.  Ruth  lay  but  a   short  two  miles  from  the 


232  THE    PILOT. 

ocean  ;  to  which  numerous  roads  led,  through  the 
grounds  of  the  Abbey,  which  extended  to  the 
shore.  Along  one  of  these  paths  Dillon  con 
ducted  his  party,  until,  after  a  few  minutes  of  hard 
riding,  they  approached  the  cliffs,  when,  post 
ing  his  troopers  under  cover  of  a  little  copse, 
the  cornet  rode  in  advance,  with  his  guide,  to 
the  verge  of  the  perpendicular  rocks,  whose 
bases  were  washed  by  the  foam  that  still  whiten 
ed  the  waters  from  the  surges  of  the  subsiding 
sea. 

The  gale  had  broken,  before  the  escape  of  the 
prisoners,  and  as  the  power  of  the  eastern  tem 
pest  had  gradually  diminished,  a  light  current 
from  the  south,  that  blew  directly  along  the  land, 
prevailed  ;  and,  though  the  ocean  still  rolled  in 
fearful  billows,  their  surfaces  were  smooth,  and 
they  were  becoming,  at  each  moment,  less  preci 
pitous,  and  more  regular.  The  eyes  of  the  horse 
men  were  cast  in  vain  over  the  immense  expanse 
of  water,  that  was  glistening  brightly  under  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  which  had  just  risen  from  its  bo 
som,  in  quest  of  some  object,  or  distant  sail,  that 
might  confirm  their  suspicions,  or  relieve  their 
doubts.  But  every  thing  of  that  description  ap 
peared  to  have  avoided  the  dangerous  navigation, 
during  the  violence  of  the  late  tempest,  and  Dil 
lon  was  withdrawing  his  eyes  in  disappointment, 
from  the  vacant  view,  when,  as  they  fell  towards 
the  shore,  he  beheld  that  which  caused  him  to  ex 
claim — 

"  There  they  go  !  and,  by  heaven,  they  will 
escape  !" 

The  cornet  looked  in  the  direction  of  the 
other's  finger,  when  he  beheld,  at  a  short  distance 
from  the  land,  and  apparently  immediately  under 
his  feet,  a  little  boat  that  looked  like  a  dark  shell 


THE    PILOT.  233 

upon  the  water,  rising  and  sinking  amid  the  waves, 
as  if  the  men  it  obviously  contained  were  resting 
on  their  oars  in  idle  expectation. 

"  'Tis  they  !"  continued  Dillon  ;  "  or,  what  is 
more  probable,  it  is  their  boat  waiting  to  convey 
them  to  their  vessel ;  no  common  business  would 
induce  seamen  to  lie  in  this  careless  manner,  with 
in  such  a  narrow  distance  of  the  surf." 

"  And  what  is  to  be  done  ?  They  cannot  be 
made  to  feel  horse  where  they  are  ;  nor  would 
the  muskets  of  the  foot  be  of  any  use.  A  light 
three  pounder  would  do  its  work  handsomely  on 
them  !" 

The  strong  desire  which  Dillon  entertained  to 
intercept,  or  rather  to  destroy  the  party,  rendered 
him  prompt  at  expedients.  After  a  moment  of 
musing,  he  replied — 

"  The  runaways  must  yet  be  on  the  land  ;  and 
by  scouring  the  coast,  and  posting  men  at  proper 
intervals,  their  retreat  can  easily  be  prevented ;  in 

the  mean  time  I  will  ride  under  the  spur  to 

bay,  where  one  of  his  majesty's  cutters  now  lies 
at  anchor — It  is  but  half  an  hour  of  hard  riding, 
and  I  can  be  on  board  of  her.  The  wind  blows 
directly  in  her  favour,  and  if  we  can  once  bring 
her  down  behind  that  headland,  we  shall  infallibly 
cut  off  or  sink  these  midnight  depredators." 

"  Off,  then  !"  cried  the  cornet,  whose  young 
blood  was  boiling  for  a  skirmish ;  "  you  will  at 
least  drive  them  to  the  shore,  where  I  can  deal 
with  them." 

The  words  were  hardly  uttered,  before  Dillon, 
after  galloping  furiously  along  the  cliffs,  and  turn 
ing  short  into  a  thick  wood,  that  lay  in  his  route, 
was  out  of  sight.  The  loyalty  of  this  gentle 
man  was  altogether  of  a  calculating  nature,  and 
was  intimately  connected  with  what  he  considered 
20* 


234  THE    PILOT 

his  fealty  to  himself.  He  believed  that  the  pos 
session  of  Miss  Howard's  person  and  fortune 
wer.e  advantages  that  would  much  more  than 
counterbalance  any  elevation  that  he  was  likely 
to  obtain  by  the  revolution  of  affairs  in  his  native 
colony.  He  considered  Griffith  as  the  only  na 
tural  obstacle  to  his  success,  and  he  urged  his 
horse  forward  with  a  desperate  determination  to 
work  the  ruin  of  the  young  sailor,  before  another 
sun  had  set.  When  a  man  labours  in  an  evil 
cause,  with  such  feelings,  and  with  such  incen 
tives,  he  seldom  slights  or  neglects  his  work  ;  and 
Mr.  Dillon,  accordingly,  wras  on  board  the  Alacri 
ty,  several  minutes  short  of  the  time  in  which  he 
had  promised  to  perform  the  distance. 

The  plain  old  seaman,  who  commanded  the 
cutter,  listened  to  his  tale  with  cautious  ears ;  and 
examined  into  the  state  of  the  wreather,  and  other 
matters  connected  with  his  duty,  with  the  slow  and 
deliberate  decision  of  one  who  had  never  done 
much  to  acquire  a  confidence  in  himself,  and  who 
had  been  but  niggardly  rewarded  for  the  little  he 
had  actually  performed. 

As  Dillon  was  urgent,  however,  and  the  day 
seemed  propitious,  he  at  length  decided  to  act  as 
he  was  desired,  and  the  cutter  was  accordingly 
gotten  under  way. 

A  crew  of  something  less  than  fifty  men  moved 
with  no  little  of  their  commander's  deliberation ; 
but  as  the  little  vessel  rounded  the  point  behind 
which  she  had  been  anchored,  her  guns  were 
cleared,  and  the  usual  preparations  were  com 
pleted  for  immediate  and  actual  service. 

Dillon,  sorely  against  his  will,  was  compelled 
to  continue  on  board,  in  order  to  point  out  the 
place  where  the  unsuspecting  boatmen  were  ex 
pected  to  be*  entrapped.  Every  thing  being 


THE    PILOT.  235 

ready,  when  they  had  gained  a  safe  distance  from 
the  land,  the  Alacrity  was  kept  away  before  the 
wind,  and  glided  along  the  shore,  with  a  swift  and 
easy  progress,  that  promised  a  speedy  execution 
of  the  business  in  which  her  commander  has  en*- 
barked. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


Pol.    Very  like  a  whale. 

Siakspcarc. 


NOTWITHSTANDING  the  object  of  their  expedi 
tion  was  of  a  public  nature,  the  feelings  which 
had  induced  both  Griffith  and  Barnstable  to  ac 
company  the  Pilot  with  so  much  willingness,  it 
will  easily  be  seen,  were  entirely  personal.  The 
short  intercourse  that  he  had  maintained  with  his 
associates  enabled  the  mysterious  leader  of  their 
party  to  understand  the  characters  of  his  two  prin 
cipal  officers  so  thoroughly,  as  to  induce  him,  when 
he  landed,  with  the  purpose  of  reconnoitring  to 
ascertain  whether  the  objects  of  his  pursuit  still 
held  their  determination  to  assemble  at  the  ap 
pointed  hour,  to  choose  Griffith  and  Manual  as  his 
only  associates,  leaving  Barnstable  in  command  of 
his  own  vessel,  to  await  their  return,  and  to  cover 
their  retreat.  A  good  deal  of  argument,  and  some 
little  of  the  authority  of  his  superior  officer,  was 
necessary  to  make  Barnstable  quietly  acquiesce  in 
this  arrangement ;  but  as  his  good  sense  told  him 
that  nothing  should  be  unnecessarily  hazarded, 
until  the  moment  to  strike  the  final  blow  had  ar 
rived,  he  became  gradually  more  resigned,  taking 
care,  however,  to  caution  Griffith  to  reconnoitre 


THE    PILOT.  237 

the  Abbey  while  his  companion  was  reconnoi 
tring  house.  It  was  the  strong  desire  of  Grif 
fith  to  comply  with  this  injunction,  which  carried 
them  a  little  out  of  their  proper  path,  and  led  to  the 
consequences  that  we  have  partly  related.  The 
evening  of  that  day  was  the  time  when  the  Pilot 
intended  to  complete  his  enterprise,  thinking  to 
entrap  his  game  while  enjoying,  the  festivities 
that  usually  succeeded  their  sports,  and  an  early 
hour  in  the  morning  was  appointed  when  Barn- 
stable  should  appear  at  the  nearest  point  to  the  Ab 
bey,  to  take  off  his  countrymen,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  as  little  as  possible  subjected  to  the  gaze 
of  their  enemies  by  day-light.  If  they  failed  to  ar 
rive  at  the  appointed  time,  his  instructions  were 
to  return  to  his  schooner,  which  lay  snugly  em 
bayed  in  a  secret  and  retired  haven,  that  but  few 
ever  approached,  either  by  land  or  wrater. 

While  the  young  cornet  still  continued  gazing 
at  the  whale-boat,  (for  it  was  the  party  from  the 
schooner  that  he  saw, )  the  hour  expired  for  the  ap 
pearance  of  Griffith  and  his  companions,  and  Barn- 
stable,  reluctantly  determined  to  comply  with  the 
letter  of  his  instructions,  and  leave  them  to  their 
own  sagacity  and  skill  to  regain  the  Ariel.  The 
boat  had  been  suffered  to  ride  in  the  edge  of  the 
surf,  since  the  appearance  of  the  sun,  and  the  eyes 
of  her  crew  were  kept  anxiously  fixed  on  the  cliffs, 
though  in  vain,  to  discover  the  signal  that  was  to 
call  them  to  the  place  of  landing.  After  looking  at 
his  watch  for  the  twentieth  time,  and  as  often  cast 
ing  glances  of  uneasy  dissatisfaction  towards  the 
shore,  the  lieutenant  exclaimed — 

"  A    charming   prospect,    this,    Master    Coffin, 
but  rather  too  much  poetry  in  it  for  your  taste  ;  1 
believe  you  relish  no  land  that  is  of  a  harder  con 
sistency  than  mud !" 


238  THE    PILOT. 

"  I  was  born  on  the  waters,  sir,"  returned  the 
cockswain,  from  his  snug  abode,  where  he  was  dis 
posed  with  his  usual  economy  of  room,  "  and  it's 
according  to  all  things  for  a  man  to  love  his  natyve 
soil.  I'll  not  deny,  Captain  Barnstable,  but  I  would 
rather  drop  my  anchor  on  a  bottom  that  won't 
broom  a  keel,  though,  at  the  same  time,  I  harbour 
no  great  malice  against  dry  land." 

"  I  shall  never  forgive  it,  myself,  if  any  acci 
dent  has  befallen  Griffith,  in  this  excursion,"  re 
joined  the  lieutenant ;  "  his  Pilot  may  be  a  bet 
ter  man  on  the  water  than  on  terra  firma,  long 
Tom." 

The  cockswain  turned  his  solemn  visage,  with 
an  extraordinary  meaning,  towards  his  commander, 
before  he  replied — 

"  For  as  long  a  time  as  I  have  followed  the  wa 
ters,  sir,  and  that  has  been  ever  since  I've  drawn 
my  rations,  seeing  that  I  was  born  while  the  boat 
was  crossing  Nantucket  shoals,  I've  never  known 
a  Pilot  come  off  in  greater  need,  than  the  one  we 
fell  in  with,  when  we  made  that  stretch  or  two  on 
the  land,  in  the  dog-watch  of  yesterday." 

"  Ay  !  the  fellow  has  played  his  part  like  a  man ; 
the  occasion  was  great,  and  it  seems  that  he  was 
quite  equal  to  his  work." 

"  The  frigate's  people  tell  me,  sir,  that  he  han 
dled  the  ship  like  a  top,"  continued  the  cockswain ; 
"  but  she  is  a  ship  that  is  a  nateral  inimy  of  the 
bottom  !" 

"  Can  you  say  as  much  for  this  boat,  Master 
Coffin  ?"  cried  Barnstable  ;  "  keep  her  out  of  the 
surf,  or  you'll  have  us  rolling  in  upon  the  beach, 
presently,  like  an  empty  water-cask ;  you  must 
remember  that  we  cannot  all  wade,  like  yourself, 
in  two-fathom  water." 

The  cockswain  cast  a  cool  glance  at  the  crests 


THE    PILOT.  239 

of  foam  that  were  breaking  over  the  tops  of  the 
billows,  within  a  few  yards  of  where  their  boat 
was  riding,  and  called  aloud  to  his  men — 

"  Pull  a  stroke  or  two  ;  away  with  her  into  dark 
water." 

The  drop  of  the  oars  resembled  the  movement? 
of  a  nice  machine,  and  the  light  boat  skimmed  along 
the  water  like  a  duck,  that  approaches  to  the  very 
brink  of  some  imminent  danger,  and  then  avoids  it, 
at  the  most  critical  moment,  apparently  without  an 
effort.  While  this  necessary  movement  was  mak 
ing,  Barnstable  arose,  and  surveyed  the  cliffs,  with 
keen  eyes,  and  then  turning  once  more  in  disap 
pointment  from  his  search,  he  said — 

"  Pull  more  from  the  land,  and  let  her  run  down, 
at  an  easy  stroke,  to  the  schooner.  Keep  a  look 
out  at  the  cliffs,  boys ;  it  is  possible  that  they  are 
stowed  in  some  of  the  holes  in  the  rocks,  for  it's 
no  daylight  business  they  are  on." 

The  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  they  had 
glided  along  for  near  a  mile,  in  this  manner,  in  the 
most  profound  silence,  when  suddenly  the  stillness 
was  broken  by  a  heavy  rush  of  air,  and  a  dash  of 
the  water,  seemingly  at  no  great  distance  from 
them. 

"  By  heaven,  Tom,"  cried  Barnstable,  starting, 
"  there  is  the  blow  of  a  whale." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  returned  the  cockswain  with  un 
disturbed  composure  ;  "  here  is  his  spout,  not  half 
a  mile  to  seaward  ;  the  easterly  gale  has  driven  the 
ci eater  to  leeward,  and  he  begins  to  find  himself 
in  shoal  water.  He's  been  sleeping,  while  he 
should  have  been  working  to  windward  !" 

"  The  fellow  takes  it  coolly,  too  !  he's  in  no 
hurry  to  get  an  offing  !" 

"  I  rather  conclude,  sir,"  said  the  cockswain, 
rolling  over  his  tobacco  in  his  mouth,  very  com- 


240  THE    PILOT. 

posedly,  while  his  little  sunken  eyes  began  to 
twinkle  with  pleasure  at  the  sight,  "  the  gentle 
man  has  lost  his  reckoning,  and  don't  know  which 
way  to  head,  to  take  himself  back  into  blue  wa 
ter." 

"  'Tis  a  fin-back !"  exclaimed  the  lieutenant , 
"  he  will  soon  make  head-way,  and  be  off." 

"  No,  sir,  'tis  a  right  whale,"  answered  Ton  ; 
"  I  saw  his  spout ;  he  threw  up  a  pair  of  as  pretty 
rainbows  as  a  Christian  would  wish  to  look  at. 
He's  a  raal  oil-butt,  that  fellow  !" 

Barnstable  laughed,  turned  himself  away  from 
the  tempting  sight,  and  tried  to  look  at  the  cliffs  ; 
and  then  unconsciously  bent  his  longing  eyes  again 
on  the  sluggish  animal,  who  was  throwing  his  huge 
carcass,  at  times,  for  many  feet  from  the  water,  in 
idle  gambols.  The  temptation  for  sport,  and  the 
recollection  of  his  early  habits,  at  length  prevailed 
over  his  anxiety  in  behalf  of  his  friends,  and  the 
young  officer  inquired  of  his  cockswain — 

"  Is  there  any  whale-line  in  the  boat,  to  make 
fast  to  that  harpoon  which  you  bear  about  with  you 
in  fair  weather  or  foul  ?" 

"  I  never  trust  the  boat  from  the  schoonei 
without  part  of  a  shot,  sir,"  returned  the  cock 
swain  ;  "  there  is  something  nateral  in  the  sight 
of  a  tub  to  my  old  eyes." 

Barnstable  looked  at  his  watch,  and  again  at  the 
cliffs,  when  he  exclaimed,  in  joyous  tones — 

"  Give  strong  way,  my  hearties  !  There  seems 
nothing  better  to  be  done ;  let  us  have  a  stroke  of 
a  harpoon  at  that  impudent  rascal." 

The  men  shouted  spontaneously,  and  the  old 
cockswain  suffered  his  solemn  visage  to  relax  into 
a  small  laugh,  while  the  whale-boat  sprung  for 
ward  like  a  courser  for  the  gaol.  During  the  few 
minutes  they  were  pulling  towards  their  game. 


THE    PILOT.  241 

long  Tom  arose  from  his  crouching  attitude  in  the 
stern  sheets,  and  transferred  his  huge  form  to  the 
bows  of  the  boat,  where  he  made  such  prepara 
tions  to  strike  the  whale  as  the  occasion  required. 
The  tub,  containing  about  half  of  a  \vhale-line,  was 
placed  at  the  feet  of  Barnstable,  who  had  been  pre 
paring  an  oar  to  steer  with,  in  place  of  the  rudder, 
which  was  unshipped,  in  order  that,  if  necessary, 
the  boat  might  be  whirled  round,  when  not  ad 
vancing. 

Their  approach  was  utterly  unnoticed  by  the 
monster  of  the  deep,  who  continued  to  amuse  him 
self  with  throwing  the  water,  in  two  circular  spouts, 
high  into  the  air,  occasionally  flourishing  the  broad 
flukes  of  his  tail  with  a  graceful  but  terrific  force, 
until  the  hardy  seamen  were  within  a  few  hundred 
feet  of  him,  when  he  suddenly  cast  his  head  down 
ward,  and,  without  an  apparent  effort,  reared  his 
immense  body  for  many  feet  above  the  water, 
waving  his  tail  violently,  and  producing  a  whizzing 
noise,  that  sounded  like  the  rushing  of  winds. 

The  cockswain  stood  erect,  poising  his  harpoon, 
ready  for  the  blow ;  but  when  he  beheld  the  crea 
ture  assume  this  formidable  attitude,  he  waved  his 
hand  to  his  commander,  who  instantly  signed  to 
his  men  to  cease  rowing.  In  this  situation  the 
sportsmen  rested  a  few  moments,  while  the  whale 
struck  several  blows  on  the  \vater,  in  rapid  succes 
sion,  the  noise  of  which  re-echoed  along  the  cliffs, 
like  the  hollow  reports  of  so  many  cannon.  After 
this  wanton  exhibition  of  his  terrible  strength,  the 
monster  sunk  again  into  his  native  element,  and 
slowly  disappeared  from  the  eyes  of  his  pursuers. 

"  Which  way  did  he  head,  Tom  ?"  cried  Barn- 
stable,  the  moment  the  whale  was  out  of  sight. 

"  Pretty  much  up  and  down,  sir,"  returned  the 
cockswain,  whose  eye  was  gradually  brightening 
21 


242  THE    PILOT. 

with  the  excitement  of  the  sport;  "  he'll  soon  lun 
his  nose  against  the  bottom,  if  he  stands  long  on 
that  course,  and  will  be  glad  to  get  another  snuff 
of  pure  air ;  send  her  a  few  fathoms  to  starboard, 
sir,  and  I  promise  we  shall  not  be  out  of  his 
track." 

The  conjecture  of  the  experienced  old  seaman 
proved  true,  for  in  a  few  minutes  the  water  broke 
near  them,  and  another  spout  was  cast  into  the 
air,  when  the  huge  animal  rushed,  for  half  his 
length,  in  the  same  direction,  and  fell  on  the  sea. 
with  a  turbulence  and  foam  equal  to  that  which  is 
produced  by  the  launching  of  a  vessel,  for  the  first 
time,  into  its  proper  element.  After  this  evolu 
tion,  the  whale  rolled  heavily,  and  seemed  to  rest 
from  further  efforts. 

His  slightest  movements  were  closely  watched  by 
Barnstable  and  his  cockswain,  and  when  he  was  in 
a  state  of  comparative  rest,  the  former  gave  a  sig 
nal  to  his  crew,  to  ply  their  oars  once  more.  A 
few  long  and  vigorous  strokes  sent  the  boat  directly 
up  to  the  broadside  of  the  whale,  with  its  bows 
pointing  towards  one  of  the  fins,  which  was,  at 
times,  as  the  animal  yielded  sluggishly  to  the  ac 
tion  of  the  waves,  exposed  to  view.  The  cock 
swain  poised  his  harpoon  with  much  precision,  and 
then  darted  it  from  him  with  a  violence  that  bu 
ried  the  iron  in  the  blubber  of  their  foe.  The 
instant  the  blow  was  made,  long  Tom  shouted, 
with  singular  earnestness — 

"  Starn  all !" 

"  Stern  all !"  echoed  Barnstable ;  when  the 
obedient  seamen,  by  united  efforts,  forced  the  boat 
in  a  backward  direction,  beyond  the  reach  of  any 
blow  from  their  formidable  antagonist.  The 
alarmed  animal,  however,  meditated  no  such  re 
sistance  ;  ignorant  of  his  own  power,  and  of  the 


THE    PILOT.  243 

insignificance  of  his  enemies,  he  sought  refuge  in 
flight.  One  moment  of  stupid  surprise  succeeded 
the  entrance  of  the  iron,  when  he  cast  his  huge 
tail  into  the  air,  with  a  violence  that  threw  the  sea 
around  him  into  increased  commotion,  and  then 
disappeared  with  the  quickness  of  lightning,  amid 
a  cloud  of  foam. 

"  Snub  him  !"  shouted  Barnstable  ;  "  hold  on, 
Tom;  he  rises  already." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  replied  the  composed  cockswain, 
seizing  the  line,  which  was  running  out  of  the  boat 
with  a  velocity  that  rendered  such  a  manoeuvre 
rather  hazardous,  and  causing  it  to  yield  more 
gradually  round  the  large  loggerhead  that  was 
placed  in  the  bows  of  the  boat  for  that  purpose. 
Presently  the  line  stretched  forward,  and  rising  to 
the  surface,  with  tremulous  vibrations,  it  indicated 
the  direction  in  wrhich  the  animal  might  be  expect 
ed  to  re-appear.  Barnstable  had  cast  the  bows 
of  the  boat  towards  that  point,  before  the  terrified 
and  wounded  victim  rose  once  more  to  the  surface, 
whose  time  was,  however,  no  longer  wasted  in 
his  sports,  but  who  cast  the  waters  aside,  as  he 
forced  his  way,  with  prodigious  velocity,  along 
their  surface.  The  boat  wras  dragged  violently  in 
his  wake,  and  cut  through  the  billows  with  a  ter 
rific  rapidity,  that  at  moments,  appeared  to  bury 
the  slight  fabric  in  the  ocean.  When  long  Tom 
beheld  his  victim  throwing  his  spouts  on  high 
again,  he  pointed  with  exultation  to  the  jetting 
fluid,  which  was  streaked  with  the  deep  red  of 
blood,  and  cried — 

"  Ay  !  I've  touched  the  fellow's  life  !  it  must  be 
more  than  two  foot  of  blubber  that  stops  my  iron 
from  reaching  the  life  of  any  whale  that  ever 
sculled  the  ocean  !" 

"  I  believe  you  have    saved  yourself  the  trou 


244  THE    PILOT. 

ble  of  using  the  bayonet  you  have  rigged  for  a 
lance,"  said  his  commander,  who  entered  into  the 
sport  with  all  the  ardour  of  one  whose  youth  had 
been  chiefly  passed  in  such  pursuits  :  "  feel  your 
line,  Master  Coffin  ;  can  we  haul  alongside  of  our 
enemy  ?  I  like  not  the  course  he  is  steering,  as 
he  tows  us  from  the  schooner." 

"  'Tis  the  creater's  way,  sir,"  said  the  cock 
swain  ;  "  you  know  they  need  the  air  in  their  nos 
trils,  when  they  run,  the  same  as  a  man  ;  but  lay 
hold,  boys,  and  let  us  haul  up  to  him." 

The  seamen  now  seized  the  whale-line,  and 
slowly  draw  their  boat  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
tail  of  the  fish,  whose  progress  became  sensibly 
less  rapid,  as  he  grew  weak  with  the  loss  of  blood. 
In  a  few  minutes  he  stopped  running,  and  appeared 
to  roll  uneasily  on  the  water,  as  if  suffering  the 
agony  of  death. 

"  Shall  we  pull  in,  and  finish  him,  Tom  ?"  cried 
Barnstable  ;  "  a  few  sets  from  your  bayonet  would 
do  it." 

The  cockswain  stood  examining  his  game,  with 
cool  discretion,  and  replied  to  this  interrogatory — 

"  No,  sir,  no — he's  going  into  his  flurry  ;  there's 
no  occasion  for  disgracing  ourselves  by  using  a 
soldier's  wreapon  in  taking  a  whale.  Starn  off,  sir, 
starn  off!  the  creater's  in  his  flurry  !" 

The  warning  of  the  prudent  cockswain  was 
promptly  obeyed,  and  the  boat  cautiously  drew  off 
to  a  distance,  leaving  to  the  animal  a  clear  space, 
while  under  its  dying  agonies.  From  a  state  of 
perfect  rest,  the  terrible  monster  threw  its  tail  on 
high,  as  when  in  sport,  but  its  blows  were  trebled 
in  rapidity  and  violence,  till  all  was  hid  from  view 
by  a  pyramid  of  foam,  that  was  deeply  dyed  with 
blood.  The  roarings  of  the  fish  were  like  the  bel- 
JowJngs  of  3.  herd  of  bulls,  and  to  one  who  was  ig< 


THE    PILOT.  245 

norant  of  the  fact,  it  would  have  appeared  as  if  a 
thousand  monsters  were  engaged  in  deadly  com 
bat,  behind  the  bloody  mist  that  obstructed  the 
view.  Gradually,  these  effects  subsided,  and  when 
the  discoloured  water  again  settled  down  to  the 
long  and  regular  swell  of  the  ocean,  the  fish  was 
seen,  exhausted,  and  yielding  passively  to  its  fate. 
As  life  departed,  the  enormous  black  mass  rolled 
to  one  side,  and  when  the  white  and  glistening 
skin  of  the  belly  became  apparent,  the  seamen  well 
knew  that  their  victory  was  achieved. 

"  What's  to  be  done  now  ?"  said  Barnstable,  as 
he  stood  and  gazed  with  a  diminished  excitement 
at  their  victim  ;  u  he  will  yield  no  food,  and  his 
carcass  will  probably  drift  to  land,  and  furnish  our 
enemies  with  the  oil." 

"  If  I  had  but  that  creater  in  Boston  Bay,"  said 
the  cockswain,  "  it  would  prove  the  making  of  me  ; 
but  such  is  my  luck  for  ever  !  Pull  up,  at  any 
rate,  and  let  me  get  my  harpoon  and  line — the 
English  shall  never  get  them  while  old  Tom  Cof 
fin  can  blow." 

"  Don't  speak  too  fast,"  said  the  strokesman  of 
the  boat ;  "  whether  he  get  your  iron  or  not,  here 
he  comes  in  chase  !" 

"  What  mean  you,  fellow  ?"  cried  Barnstable. 

"  Captain  Barnstable  can  look  for  himself,"  re 
turned  the  seaman,  "  and  tell  whether  I  speak 
truth." 

The  young  sailor  turned,  and  saw  the  Alacrity, 
bearing  down  before  the  wind,  with  all  her  sails 
Bet,  as  she  rounded  a  headland,  but  a  short  half 
league  to  windward  of  the  place  where  the  boat 
lay. 

>c  Pass  that  glass  to  me,"  said  the  captain  with 
steady  composure.  "  This  promises  us  work  in 
one  of  two  ways  ;  if  sre  be  armed,  it  has  become 
21* 


246  THE    PILOT. 

our  turn  to  run ;  if  not,  we  are  strong  enough  to 
carry  her." 

A  very  brief  survey  made  the  experienced  offi 
cer  acquainted  with  the  true  character  of  the  ves 
sel  in  sight ;  and,  replacing  the  glass  with  much 
coolness,  he  said, 

"  That  fellow  shows  long  arms,  and  ten  teeth, 
beside  King  George's  pennant  from  his  top-mast 
head.  Now,  my  lads,  you  are  to  pull  for  your 
lives ;  for  whatever  may  be  the  notions  of  Master 
Coffin  on  the  subject  of  his  harpoon,  I  have  no  in 
clination  to  have  my  arms  pinioned  by  John  Bull, 
though  his  majesty  himself  put  on  the  irons." 

The  men  well  understood  the  manner  and  mean 
ing  of  their  commander ;  and,  throwing  aside  their 
coats,  they  applied  themselves  in  earnest  to  their 
task.  For  half  an  hour  a  profound  silence  reigned 
in  the  boat,  which  made  an  amazing  progress.  But 
many  circumstances  conspired  to  aid  the  cutter ; 
she  had  a  fine  breeze,  with  smooth  water,  and  a 
strong  tide  in  her  favour ;  and,  at  the  expiration 
of  the  time  we  have  mentioned,  it  was  but  too  ap 
parent  that  the  distance  between  the  pursued  and 
pursuers  was  lessened  nearly  half.  Barn  stable 
preserved  his  steady  countenance,  but  there  was 
an  expression  of  care  gathering  around  his  dark 
brow,  which  indicated  that  he  saw  the  increasing 
danger  of  their  situation. 

"  That  fellow  has  long  legs,  Master  Coffin,"  he 
said,  in  a  cheerful  tone ;  "  your  wrhale-line  must 
go  overboard,  and  the  fifth  oar  must  be  handled  by 
your  delicate  hands." 

Tom  arose  from  his  seat,  and  proceeding  for 
ward,  he  cast  the  tub  and  its  contents  together  into 
the  sea,  when  he  seated  himself  at  the  bow  oar, 
and  bent  his  athletic  frame  with  amazing  vigoui  to 
the  task. 


THE    PILOT.  247 

"  Ah  !  there  s  much  of  your  philosophy  in  that 
stroke,  long  Tom,"  cried  his  commander ;  "  keep 
it  up  boys,  and  if  we  gain  nothing  else,  we  shall  at 
least  gain  time  for  deliberation.  Come,  Master 
Coffin,  what  think  you ;  we  have  three  resources 
before  us,  let  us  hear  which  is  your  choice  :  first, 
we  can  turn  and  fight  and  be  sunk  ;  secondly,  we 
can  pull  to  the  land,  and  endeavour  to  make  good 
our  retreat  to  the  schooner  in  that  manner ;  and, 
thirdly,  we  can  head  to  the  shore,  and  possibly  by 
running  under  the  guns  of  that  fellow,  get  the  wind 
of  him,  and  keep  the  air  in  our  nostrils,  after  the 
manner  of  the  whale.  Damn  the  whale  !  but  for 
the  tow  the  black  rascal  gave  us,  we  should  have 
been  out  of  sight  of  this  rover  !" 

"  If  we  fight,"  said  Tom,  with  quite  as  much 
composure  as  his  commander  manifested,  "  we 
shall  be  taken  or  sunk ;  if  we  land,  sir,  I  shall  be 
taken  for  one  man,  as  I  never  could  make  any  head 
way  on  dry  ground  ;  and  if  we  try  to  get  the  wind 
of  him  by  pulling  under  the  cliffs,  we  shall  be  cut 
off  by  a  parcel  of  lubbers  that  I  can  see  running 
along  their  edges,  hoping,  I  dare  say,  that  they 
shall  be  able  to  get  a  skulking  shot  at  a  boat's  crew 
of  honest  seafaring  men." 

"  You  speak  with  as  much  truth  as  philosophy, 
Tom,"  said  Barnstable,  who  saw  his  slender  hopes 
of  success  curtailed,  by  the  open  appearance  of  the 
horse  and  foot  on  the  cliffs.  "  These  Englishmen 
have  not  slept  the  last  night,  and  I  fear  Griffith 
and  Manual  will  fare  but  badly.  That  fellow 
brings  a  cap  full  of  wind  down  with  him — 'tis  just 
his  play,  and  he  walks  like  a  race-horse.  Ha  !  ho 
begins  to  be  in  earnest !" 

While  Barnstable  was  speaking,  a  column  of 
white  smoke  was  seen  issuing  from  the  bows  of 
the  cutter,  and  as  the  report  of  a  cannon  was 


248  THE    PILOT. 

wafted  to  their  ears,  the  shot  was  seen  skipping 
from  wave  to  wave,  tossing  the  water  in  spray, 
and  flying  to  a  considerable  distance  beyond  them. 
The  seamen  cast  cursory  glances  in  the  direction 
of  the  passing  ball,  but  it  produced  no  manifest  ef 
fect  in  either  their  conduct  or  appearance.  The 
cockswain,  who  scanned  its  range  with  an  eye  of 
more  practice  than  the  rest,  observed,  "  That's 
a  lively  piece  for  its  metal,  and  it  speaks  with  a 
good  clear  voice  ;  but  if  they  hear  it  aboard  the 
Ariel,  the  man  who  fired  it  will  be  sorry  it  wasn't 
born  dumb." 

"  You  are  the  prince  of  philosophers,  Master 
Coffin  !"  cried  Barnstable ;  "  there  is  some  hope 
in  that ;  let  the  Englishman  talk  away,  and  my 
life  on  it,  the  Ariels  don't  believe  it  is  thunder ; 
hand  me  a  musket — I'll  draw  another  shot." 

The  piece  was  given  to  Barnstable,  who  dis 
charged  it  several  times,  as  if  to  taunt  their  ene 
mies,  and  the  scheme  was  completely  successful. 
Goaded  by  the  insults,  the  cutter  discharged  gun 
after  gun  at  the  little  boat,  throwing  the  shot  fre 
quently  so  near  as  to  wet  her  crew  with  the  spray, 
but  without  injuring  them  in  the  least.  The  fail 
ure  of  these  attempts  to  injure  them,  excited  the 
mirth  of  the  reckless  seamen,  instead  of  creating 
any  alarm  ;  and  whenever  a  shot  came  nearer  than 
common,  the  cockswain  would  utter  some  such  ex 
pression  as — 

"  A  ground  swell,  a  long  shot,  and  a  small  ob 
ject,  make  a  clean  target ;"  or,  "  A  man  must 
squint  straight  to  hit  a  boat." 

As,  notwithstanding  their  unsuccessful  gunnery, 
the  cutter  was  constantly  gaining  on  the  whale- 
boat,  there  was  a  prospect  of  a  speedy  termination 
of  the  chase,  when  the  report  of  a  cannon  was 
thrown  back  like  an  echo  from  one  of  the  English- 


THE    PILOT.  219 

man's  discharges,  and  Barnstable  and  his  compa 
nions  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  Ariel  stretch 
ing  slowly  out  of  the  little  bay  where  she  had 
passed  the  night,  with  the  smoke  of  the  gun  of  de 
fiance  curling  above  her  taper  masts. 

A  loud  and  simultaneous  shout  of  rapture  was 
given  by  the  lieutenant  and  all  his  boat's-crew, 
at  this  cheering  sight,  while  the  cutter  took  in  all 
her  light  sails,  and,  as  she  hauled  up  on  a  wind, 
she  fired  a  whole  broadside  at  the  successful  fugi 
tives.  Many  stands  of  grape,  with  several  round 
shot,  flew  by  the  boat,  and  fell  upon  the  water, 
near  them,  raising  a  cloud  of  foam,  but  without 
doing  any  injury. 

u  She  dies  in  a  flurry,"  said  Tom,  casting  his 
eyes  at  the  little  vortex  into  which  the  boat  was 
then  entering. 

"  If  her  commander  be  a  true  man,"  cried  Barn- 
stable,  "  he'll  not  leave  us  on  so  short  an  acquaint 
ance.  Give  way,  my  souls  !  give  way  !  I  would 
see  more  of  this  loquacious  cruiser." 

The  temptation  for  exertion  was  great,  and  it 
was  not  disregarded  by  the  men  ;  in  a  few  minutes 
the  whale-boat  reached  the  schooner,  when  the 
crew  of  the  latter  received  their  commander  and 
his  companions  with  shouts  and  cheers  that  rung 
across  the  waters,  and  reached  the  ears  of  the  dis 
appointed  spectators  on  the  verge  of  the  cliffs. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


u  Thus  guided,  on  their  course  they  bore, 
Until  they  near'd  the  mainland  shore  j 
When  frequent  on  the  hollow  blast, 
Wild  shouta  of  merriment  were  cast." 

Lord  cf  the  Islea. 


THE  joyful  shouts  and  hearty  cheers  of  the 
Ariel's  crew  continued  for  some  time  after  her 
commander  had  reached  her  deck.  Barnstable 
answered  the  congratulations  of  his  officers  by  cor 
dial  shakes  of  the  hand,  and  after  waiting  for  the 
ebullition  of  delight  among  the  seamen  to  subside 
a  little,  he  beckoned  with  an  air  of  authority  for 
silence. 

"  I  thank  you,  my  lads,  for  your  good  will," 
he  said,  when  all  were  gathered  around  him  in 
deep  attention  :  "  they  have  given  us  a  tough  chase, 
and  if  you  had  left  us  another  mile  to  go,  we  had 
been  lost.  That  fellow  is  a  King's  cutter,  and 
though  his  disposition  to  run  to  leewrard  is  a  good 
deal  mollified,  yet  he  shows  signs  of  fight.  At  any 
rate,  he  is  stripping  off  some  of  his  clothes,  which 
looks  as  if  he  were  game.  Luckily  for  us,  Cap 
tain  Manual  has  taken  all  his  marines  ashore 
with  him,  (though  what  he  has  done  with  them  or 
himself,  is  a  mystery,)  or  we  should  have  had  our 
decks  lumbered  with  live  cattle  ;  but,  as  it  is  we 
have  a  good  working  breeze,  tolerably  smooth  wa  • 
ter,  and  a  dead  match !  There  is  a  sort  of  national 


THE    PILOT.  251 

obligation  on  us  to  whip  that  fellow,  and,  therefore 
without  more  words  about  the  matter,  let  us  turn 
to  and  do  it,  that  we  may  get  our  breakfasts. >% 

To  this  specimen  of  marine  eloquence,  the  crew 
cheered  as  usual ;  the  young  men  burning  for  the 
combat,  and  the  few  old  sailors  who  belonged  to 
the  schooner,  shaking  their  heads  with  infinite  sa 
tisfaction,  and  swearing  by  sundry  strange  oaths, 
that  their  captain  "  could  talk,  when  there  was 
need  of  such  thing,  like  the  best  Dictionary  that 
ever  was  launched." 

During  this  short  harangue,  and  the  subsequent 
comments,  the  Ariel  had  been  kept,  under  a  cloud 
of  canvass,  as  near  to  the  wind  as  she  could  lie, 
and  as  this  was  her  best  sailing,  she  had  stretched 
swiftly  out  from  the  land,  to  a  distance  whence  the 
cliffs  and  the  soldiers  who  were  spread  along  their 
summits,  became  plainly  visible.  Barnstable  turned 
his  glass  repeatedly,  from  the  cutter  to  the  shore, 
as  different  feelings  predominated  in  his  breast,  be 
fore  he  again  spoke. 

"  If  Mr.  Griffith  is  stowed  away  among  those 
rocks,"  he  at  length  said,  "  he  shall  see  as  pretty 
an  argument  discussed,  in  as  few  words,  as  he 
ever  listened  to,  provided  the  gentlemen  in  yon 
der  cutter  have  not  changed  their  minds  as  to  the 
road  they  intend  to  journey — what  think  you,  Mr. 
Merry  ?" 

"  I  wish  with  all  my  heart  and  soul,  sir,"  re 
turned  the  fearless  boy,  "  that  Mr.  Griffith  was  safe 
aboard  us;  it  seems  the  country  is  alarmed,  and 
God  knows  what  will  happen  if  he  is  taken  !  as  to 
the  fellow  to  windward,  he'll  find  it  easier  to  deal 
with  the  Ariel's  boat,  than  with  her  mother ;  but 
lie  carries  a  broad  sail ;  I  question  if  he  means  to 
show  play." 

u  Never  doubt  him,  boy,"  said  Barnstable,  u  he 


252  THE    PILOT. 

is  working  off  the  shore,  like  a  man  of  sense,  and 
besides,  he  has  his  spectacles  on,  trying  to  make 
out  what  tribe  of  Yankee  Indians  we  belong  to 
You'll  see  him  come  to  the  wind  presently,  and 
send  a  few  pieces  of  iron  down  this  way,  by  the 
way  of  letting  us  know  where  to  find  him.  Much 
as  I  like  your  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Merry,  I  would 
rather  leave  him  on  the  land  this  day,  than  see 
him  on  my  decks.  I  want  no  fighting  captain  to 
work  this  boat  for  me  !  but  tell  the  drummer,  sir, 
to  beat  to  quarters." 

The  boy,  who  was  staggering  under  the  weight 
of  his  melodious  instrument,  had  been  expecting 
this  command,  and,  without  waiting  for  the  mid 
shipman  to  communicate  the  order,  he  commenced 
that  short  rub-a-dub  air,  that  will  at  any  time  rouse 
a  thousand  men  from  the  deepest  sleep,  and  cause 
them  to  fly  to  their  means  of  offence,  with  a  com 
mon  soul.  The  crew  of  the  Ariel  had  been  col 
lected  in  groups,  studying  the  appearance  of  the 
enemy,  cracking  their  jokes,  and  waiting  only  for 
this  usual  order  to  repair  to  the  guns ;  and  at  the 
first  tap  of  the  drum,  they  spread  with  steadiness 
to  the  different  parts  of  the  little  vessel,  where 
their  various  duties  called  them.  The  cannon  were 
surrounded  by  small  parties  of  vigorous  and  athle 
tic  young  men  ;  the  few  marines  were  drawn  up 
in  array  with  muskets ;  the  officers  appeared  in 
their  boarding  caps,  with  pistols  stuck  in  their 
belts,  and  naked  sabres  in  their  hands.  Barnstable 
paced  his  little  quarter-deck  with  a  firm  tread, 
dangling  a  speaking  trumpet,  by  its  lanyard,  on  his 
fore-finger,  or  occasionally  applying  the  glass  to  his 
eye,  which,  when  not  in  use,  was  placed  under  one 
arm,  while  his  sword  was  resting  against  the  foot 
of  the  mainmast ;  a  pair  of  heavy  ship's  pistols  were 
thrust  in  his  belt  also  ;  and  piles  of  muskets,  board 


THE    PILOT. 

ing-pikes,  and  naked  sabres,  were  placed  on  dif 
ferent  parts  of  the  deck.  The  laugh  of  the  sea 
men  was  heard  no  longer ,  and  those  who  spoke 
uttered  their  thoughts  only  in  low  and  indistinct 
whispers. 

The  English  cutter  held  her  way  from  the  land, 
until  she  got  an  offing  of  more  than  two  miles, 
when  she  reduced  her  sails  to  a  yet  smaller  num 
ber,  and  heaving  into  the  wind,  she  fired  a  gun  in 
a  direction  opposite  to  that  which  pointed  to  the 
Ariel. 

"  Now  I  would  wager  a  quintal  of  codfish,  Mas 
ter  Coffin,"  said  Barnstable,  "  against  the  best 
3ask  of  porter  that  was  ever  brewed  in  England, 
that  fellow  believes  a  Yankee  schooner  can  fly  in 
the  wind's  eye  !  If  he  wishes  to  speak  to  us,  why 
don't  he  give  his  cutter  a  little  sheet,  and  come 
down  ?" 

The  cockswain  had  made  his  arrangements  for 
the  combat,  with  much  more  method  and  philoso 
phy  than  any  other  man  in  the  vessel.  When  the 
drum  beat  to  quarters,  he  threw  aside  his  jacket, 
vest,  and  shirt,  with  as  little  hesitation  as  if  he 
stood  under  an  American  sun,  and  with  all  the  dis 
cretion  of  a  man  who  had  engaged  in  an  under 
taking  that  required  the  free  use  of  his  utmost 
powers.  As  he  was  known  to  be  a  privileged  in 
dividual  in  the  Ariel,  and  one  whose  opinions,  in 
all  matters  of  seamanship,  were  regarded  as  ora 
cles  by  the  crew,  and  were  listened  to  by  his  com 
mander  writh  no  little  demonstration  of  respect,  the 
question  excited  no  surprise.  He  was  standing  at 
the  breech  of  his  long  gun,  with  his  brawny  arms 
folded  on  a  breast  that  had  been  turned  to  the  co 
lour  of  blood  by  long  exposure,  his  grizzled  locks 
fluttering  in  the  breeze,  and  his  tall  form  towering 
far  above  the  heads  of  all  near  him. 
22 


254  THE   PILOT. 

"  He  hugs  the  wind,  sir,  as  if  it  was  his  sweet 
heart,"  was  his  answer  ;  "  but  he'll  let  go  hishold; 
soon ;  and  if  he  don't,  we  can  find  a  way  to  make 
him  fall  to  leeward." 

"  Keep  a  good  full !"  cried  the  commander,  in 
a  stern  voice,  "  and  let  the  vessel  go  through  the 
water.  That  fellow  walks  well,  long  Tom ;  but 
we  aie  too  much  for  him  on  a  bowling ;  though,  if 
he  continue  to  draw  ahead  in  this  manner,  it  will 
be  night  before  we  can  get  alongside  him." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  returned  the  cockswain ;  "  them 
cutters  carries  a  press  of  canvass  when  they  seem 
to  have  but  little ;  their  gafts  are  all  the  same  as 
young  booms,  and  spread  a  broad  head  to  their 
mainsails.  But  it's  no  hard  matter  to  knock  a  few 
cloths  out  of  their  bolt-ropes,  when  she  will  both 
drop  astarn  and  to  leeward." 

"  I  believe  there  is  good  sense  in  your  scheme, 
this  time,"  said  Barnstable  ;  "  for  I  am  anxious 
about  the  frigate's  people — though  I  hate  a  noisy 
chase ;  speak  to  him,  Tom,  and  let  us  see  if  he 
will  answer." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  cried  the  cockswain,  sinking  his 
body  in  such  a  manner  as  to  let  his  head  fall  to  a 
level  with  the  cannon  that  he  controlled,  when, 
after  diverse  orders,  and  sundry  movements,  to 
govern  the  direction  of  the  piece,  he  applied  a 
match,  with  a  rapid  motion,  to  the  priming.  An 
immense  body  of  white  smoke  rushed  from  the 
muzzle  of  the  cannon,  followed  by  a  sheet  of  vivid 
fire,  until,  losing  its  power,  it  yielded  to  the  wind, 
and,  as  it  rose  from  the  water,  spread  like  a  cloud, 
and,  passing  through  the  masts  of  the  schooner, 
was  driven  far  to  leeward,  and  soon  blended  in  the 
mists  which  were  swiftly  scudding  before  the  fresh 
breezes  of  the  ocean. 

Although  many  curious  eyes  were  watching  this 


THE    PILOT.  255 

beautiful  sight  from  the  cliffs,  there  was  tou  little 
of  novelty  in  the  exhibition  to  attract  a  single  look 
of  the  crew  of  the  schooner,  from  the  more  im 
portant  examination  of  the  effect  of  the  shot  on 
their  enemy.  Barnstable  sprang  lightly  on  a  gun, 
and  watched  the  instant  when  the  ball  would  strike, 
with  keen  interest,  while  long  Tom  threw  him 
self  aside  from  the  line  of  the  smoke  with  a  simi 
lar  intention  ;  holding  one  of  his  long  arms  extend 
ed  towards  his  namesake,  with  a  finger  on  the  vent, 
and  supporting  his  frame  by  placing  the  hand  of 
the  other  on  the  deck,  as  his  eyes  glanced  through 
an  opposite  port-hole,  in  an  attitude  that  most  men 
might  have  despaired  of  imitating  with  success. 

"  There  go  the  chips  !"  cried  Barnstable.  "  Bra 
vo  !  Master  Coffin,  you  never  planted  iron  in  the 
ribs  of  an  Englishman  with  more  judgment ;  let 
him  have  another  piece  of  it,  and  if  he  like  the 
sport,  we'll  play  a  game  of  long  bowls  with  him  !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir^"  returned  the  cockswain,  who,  the 
instant  he  witnessed  the  effects  of  his  shot,  had  re 
turned  to  superintend  the  reloading  of  his  gun ; 
"  if  he  holds  on  half  an  hour  longer,  I'll  dub  him 
down  to  our  own  size,  when  we  can  close,  and 
make  an  even  fight  of  it." 

The  drum  of  the  Englishman  was  now,  for  the 
first  time,  heard,  rattling  across  the  waters,  and 
echoing  the  call  to  quarters,  that  had  already  pro 
ceeded  from  the  Ariel. 

"  Ah  !  you  have  sent  him  to  his  guns !"  said 
Barnstable;  "we  shall  now  hear  more  of  it; 
wake  him  up,  Tom — wake  him  up." 

"  We  shall  start  him  an  end,  or  put  him  to  sleep 
altogether,  shortly,"  said  the  deliberate  cockswain, 
who  never  allowed  himself  to  be  at  all  hurried, 
even  by  his  commander.  "  My  shot  are  pretty 
much  like  a  shoal  of  porpoises,  and  commonly  sail 


256  THE    PILOT. 

in  each  other's  wake.  Stand  by — heave  her 
breech  forward — so  ;  get  out  of  that,  you  damned 
young  reprobate,  and  let  my  harpoon  alone." 

"  What  are  you  at,  there,  Master  Coffin  ?"  cried 
Barristable  ;  "  are  you  tongue-tied  ?" 

"  Here's  one  of  the  boys  skylarking  with  my 
harpoon  in  the  lee  scuppers,  and  by-and-by,  when 
I  shall  want  it  most,  there'll  be  a  no-man's-land 
to  hunt  for  it  in." 

"  Never  mind  the  boy,  Tom  ;  send  him  aft  here , 
to  me,  and  I'll  polish  his  behaviour ;  give  the  Eng 
lishman  some  more  iron." 

"  I  want  the  little  villain  to  pass  up  my  car 
tridges,"  returned  the  angry  old  seaman  ;  "  but  if 
you'll  be  so  good,  sir,  as  to  hit  him  a  crack  or  two, 
now  and  then,  as  he  goes  by  you  to  the  magazine, 
the  monkey  will  learn  his  manners,  and  the  schoo 
ner's  work  will  be  all  the  better  done  for  it.  A 
young  herring-faced  monkey  !  to  meddle  with  a 
tool  ye  don't  know  the  use  of.  If  your  parents 
had  spent  more  of  their  money  on  your  edication. 
and  less  on  your  outfit,  you'd  ha'  been  a  gentle 
man  to  what  ye  are  now." 

"  Hurrah  !  Tom,  hurrah  !"  cried  Barnstable,  a 
little  impatiently  ;  tc  is  your  namesake  never  to 
open  his  throat  again  !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir ;  all  ready,"  grumbled  the  cock 
swain,  "  depress  a  little  ;  so — so  ;  a  damn'd  young 
baboon-behaved  curmudgeon  ;  overhaul  that  for 
ward  fall  more  ;  stand  by  with  your  match — but 
I'll  pay  him  !  fire."  This  was  the  actual  com 
mencement  of  the  fight ;  for  as  the  shot  of  Tom 
Coffin  travelled,  as  he  had  intimated,  very  much 
in  the  same  direction,  their  enemy  found  the  sport 
becoming  too  hot  to  be  endured  in  silence,  and  the 
report  of  the  second  gun  from  the  Ariel  was  in 
stantly  followed  by  that  of  the  whole  broadside  of 


THE    PILOT  257 

the  Alacrity.  The  shot  of  the  cuttev  flew  in  a  ve 
ry  good  direction,  but  her  guns  were  too  light  to 
give  them  efficiency  at  that  distance,  and  as  one 
or  two  were  heard  to  strike  against  the  bends  of 
the  schooner,  and  fall  back,  innocuously,  into  the 
water,  the  cockswain,  whose  good  humour  became 
gradually  restored,  as  the  combat  thickened,  re 
marked  with  his  customary  apathy — 

"  Them  count  for  no  more  than  love  taps — does 
the  Englishman  think  that  we  are  firing  salutes  !" 

"  Stir  him  up,  Tom  !  every  blow  you  give  him 
will  help  to  open  his  eyes,"  cried  Barnstable,  rub 
bing  his  hands  with  glee,  as  he  witnessed  the  suc 
cess  of  his  efforts  to  close. 

Thus  far  the  cockswain  and  his  crew  had  the 
fight,  on  the  part  of  the  Ariel,  altogether  to  them 
selves,  the  men  who  were  stationed  at  the  smaller 
and  shorter  guns,  standing  in  perfect  idleness  by 
their  sides ;  but  in  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  the  com 
mander  of  the  Alacrity,  who  had  been  staggered 
by  the  weight  of  the  shot  that  had  struck  him, 
found  that  it  was  no  longer  in  his  power  to  retreat, 
if  he  wished  it ;  when  he  decided  on  the  only 
course  that  was  left  for  a  brave  man  to  pursue,  and 
steered  boldly  in  such  a  direction  as  would  soonest 
bring  him  in  contact  with  his  enemy,  without  ex 
posing  his  vessel  to  be  raked  by  his  fire.  Barn- 
stable  watched  each  movement  of  his  foe  with  ea 
gle  eyes,  and  when  the  vessel  had  got  within  a  les 
sened  distance,  he  gave  the  order  for  a  general  fire 
to  be  opened.  The  action  now  grew  warm  and 
spirited  on  both  sides.  The  power  of  the  wind 
was  counteracted  by  the  constant  explosion  of  the 
cannon  ;  and  instead  of  driving  rapidly  to  leeward, 
a  white  canopy  of  curling  smoke  hung  above  the 
Ariel,  or  rested  on  the  water,  lingering  in  her 
wake,  so  as  to  mark  the  path  by  which  shfe  was 
22  * 


258  THE    PILOT. 

approaching  to  a  closer  and  still  deadlier  struggle. 
The  shouts  of  the  young  sailors,  as  they  handled 
their  instruments  of  death,  became  more  animated 
and  fierce,  while  the  cockswain  pursued  his  occu 
pation  with  the  silence  and  skill  of  one  who  la 
boured  in  a  regular  vocation.  Barnstable  was  un 
usually  composed  and  quiet,  maintaining  the  grave 
deportment  of  a  commander  -on  whom  rested  the 
fortunes  of  the  contest,  at  the  same  time  that  his 
dark  eyes  were  dancing  with  the  fire  of  suppress 
ed  animation. 

"  Give  it  them  !"  he  occasionally  cried,  in  a 
voice  that  might  be  heard  amid  the  bellowing  of 
the  cannon  ;  "  never  mind  their  cordage,  my  lads ; 
drive  home  their  bolts,  and  make  your  marks  be 
low  their  ridge-ropes." 

In  the  mean  time  the  Englishman  played  a  man 
ful  game.  He  had  suffered  a  heavy  loss  by  the 
distant  cannonade,  which  no  metal  he  possessed 
could  retort  upon  his  enemy  ;  but  he  struggled  no 
bly  to  repair  the  error  in  judgment  with  which  he 
had  begun  the  contest.  The  two  vessels  gradual 
ly  drew  nigher  to  each  other,  until  they  both  en 
tered  into  the  common  cloud,  created  by  their  fire, 
which  thickened  and  spread  around  them  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  conceal  their  dark  hulls  from  the 
gaze  of  the  curious  and  interested  spectators  on 
the  cliffs.  The  heavy  reports  of  the  cannon  were 
now  mingled  with  the  rattling  of  muskets  and 
pistols,  and  streaks  of  fire  might  be  seen  glanc 
ing  like  flashes  of  lightning  through  the  white 
cloud  which  enshrouded  the  combatants,  and 
many  minutes  of  painful  uncertainty  followed, 
before  the  deeply  interested  soldiers,  who  were 
gazing  at  the  scene,  discovered  on  whose  banners 
victory  had  alighted. 

We  shall  follow  the  combatants  into  their  misty 


THE    PILOT.  259 

wreath,  and  display  to  the  reader  the  events  as 
they  occurred. 

The  fire  of  the  Ariel  was  much  the  most  quick 
and  deadly,  both  because  she  had  suffered  less,  and 
her  men  were  less  exhausted  ;  and  the  cutter  stood 
desperately  on  to  decide  the  combat,  after  grap 
pling,  hand  to  hand.  Barnstable  anticipated  her 
intention,  and  well  understood  her  commander's 
reason  for  adopting  this  course,  but  he  was  not  a 
man  to  calculate  coolly  his  advantages,  when  pride 
and  daring  invited  him  to  a  more  severe  trial.  Ac 
cordingly,  he  met  the  enemy  half-way,  and  as  the 
vessels  rushed  together,  the  stern  of  the  schooner 
was  secured  to  the  bows  of  the  cutter,  by  the  joint 
efforts  of  both  parties.  The  voice  of  the  English 
commander  was  now  plainly  to  be  heard,  in  the 
uproar,  calling  to  his  men  to  follow  him. 

"  Away  there,  boarders !  repel  boarders  on  the 
starboard  quarter !"  shouted  Barnstable  through 
his  trumpet.  -'I 

This  was  the  last  order  that  the  gallant  young 
sailor  gave  with  this  instrument,  for,  as  he  spoke,  he 
cast  it  from  him,  and  seizing  his  sabre,  flew  to  the 
spot  where  the  enemy  was  about  to  make  his  most 
desperate  effort.  The  shout's,  execrations,  and 
tauntings  of  the  combatants,  now  succeeded  to  the 
roar  of  the  cannon,  which  could  be  used  no  longer 
with  effect,  though  the  fight  was  still  maintained 
with  spirited  discharges  of  the  small  arms. 

"  Sweep  him  from  his  decks!"  cried  the  English 
commander,  as  he  appeared  on  his  own  bulwarks, 
surrounded  by  a  dozen  of  his  bravest  men  ;  "  drive 
the  rebellious  dogs  into  the  sea  !" 

"  Away  there,  marines !"  retorted  Barnstable, 
firing  his  pistol  at  the  advancing  enemy ;  "  leave 
not  a  man  of  them  to  sup  his  grog  again." 


260  THE    PILOT. 

The  tremendous  and  close  volley  that  succeeded 
this  order  nearly  accomplished  the  command  of 
Barnstable  to  the  letter,  and  the  commander  of  the 
Alacrity,  perceiving  that  he  stood  alone,  reluctantly 
fell  back  on  the  deck  of  his  own  vessel,  in  order 
to  bring  on  his  men  once  more. 

"  Board  her  !  gray  beards  and  boys,  idlers  and 
all !"  shouted  Barnstable,  springing  in  advance  of 
his  crew — a  powerful  arm  arrested  the  movement 
of  the  dauntless  seaman,  and  before  he  had  time  to 
recover  himself,  he  was  drawn  violently  back  to 
his  own  vessel,  by  the  irresistible  grasp  of  his 
cockswain. 

"  The  fellow's  in  his  flurry,"  said  Tom,  "  and 
it  wouldn't  be  wise  to  go  within  reach  of  his  flukes ; 
but  I'll  just  step  ahead  and  give  him  a  set  with  my 
harpoon." 

Without  waiting  for  a  reply,  the  cockswain  reared 
his  tall  frame  on  the  bulwarks,  and  was  in  the  at 
titude  of  stepping  on  board  of  his  enemy,  when  a 
sea  separated  the  vessels,  and  he  fell  with  a  heavy 
dash  of  the  waters  into  the  ocean.  As  twenty 
muskets  .and  pistols  were  discharged  at  the  instant 
he  appeared,  the  crew  of  the  Ariel  supposed  his 
fall  to  be  occasioned  by  his  wounds,  and  were  ren 
dered  doubly  fierce  by  the  sight,  and  the  cry  of 
their  commander  to — 

"  Revenge  long  Tom  !  board  her ;  long  Tom  or 
death  !" 

They  threw  themselves  forward  in  irresistible 
numbers,  and  forced  a  passage,  with  much  blood 
shed,  to  the  forecastle  of  the  Alacrity.  The  En 
glishman  was  overpowered,  but  still  remained  un 
daunted — he  rallied  his  crew,  and  bore  up  most 
gallantly  to  the  fray.  Thrusts  of  pikes,  and  blows 
of  sabres  were  becoming  close  and  deadly,  whi^e 


THE    PILOT.  261 

muskets  and  pistols  were  constantly  discharged  by 
those  who  were  kept  at  a  distance  by  the  pressure 
of  the  throng  of  closer  combatants. 

Barnstable  led  his  men,  in  advance,  and  became 
a  mark  of  peculiar  vengeance  to  his  enemies,  as 
they  slowly  yielded  before  his  vigorous  assaults. 
Chance  had  placed  the  two  commanders  on  oppo 
site  sides  of  the  cutter's  deck,  and  the  victory 
seemed  to  incline  towards  either  party,  wherever 
these  daring  officers  directed  the  struggle  in  per 
son.  But  the  Englishman,  perceiving  that  the 
ground  he  maintained  in  person  was  lost  elsewhere, 
made  an  effort  to  restore  the  battle,  by  changing 
his  position,  followed  by  one  or  two  of  his  best 
men.  A  marine,  who  preceded  him,  levelled  his 
musket  within  a  few  feet  of  the  head  of  the  Ame 
rican  commander,  and  was  about  to  fire,  when 
Merry  glided  among  the  combatants,  and  passed 
his  dirk  into  the  body  of  the  man,  who  fell  at  the 
blow ;  shaking  his  piece,  with  horrid  imprecations, 
the  wounded  soldier  prepared  to  deal  his  vengeance 
on  his  youthful  assailant,  when  the  fearless  boy 
leaped  within  its  muzzle,  and  buried  his  own  keen 
weapon  in  his  heart. 

"  Hurrah  !"  shouted  the  unconscious  Barnsta 
ble,  from  the  edge  of  the  quarter-deck,  where,  at 
tended  by  a  few  men,  he  was  driving  all  before 
him.  "  Revenge — long  Tom  and  victory  !" 

"  We  have  them  !"  exclaimed  the  Englishman  ; 
"  handle  your  pikes  !  we  have  them  between  two 
fires." 

The  battle  would  probably  have  terminated  very 
differently  from  what  previous  circumstances  had 
indicated,  had  not  a  wild-looking  figure  appeared 
in  the  cutter's  channels  at  that  moment,  issuing 
from  the  sea,  and  gaining  the  deck  at  the  same  in 
stant.  It  was  long  Tom,  with  his  iron  visage  ren- 


262 


THE    PILOT. 


dered  fierce  by  his  previous  discomfiture,  and  his 
grizzled  locks  drenched  with  the  briny  element, 
from  which  he  had  risen,  looking  like  Neptune  with 
his  trident.  Without  speaking,  he  poised  his  har 
poon,  and  with  a  powerful  effort,  pinned  the  unfor 
tunate  Englishman  to  the  mast  of  his  own  vessel. 

"  Starn  all !"  cried  Tom,  by  a  sort  of  instinct, 
when  the  blow  was  struck  ;  and  catching  up  the 
musket  of  the  fallen  marine,  he  dealt  out  terrible 
and  fatal  blows  with  its  butt,  on  all  who  approach 
ed  him,  utterly  disregarding  the  use  of  the  bayonet 
on  its  muzzle.  The  unfortunate  commander  of 
the  Alacrity  brandished  his  sword  with  frantic  ges 
tures,  while  his  eyes  rolled  in  horrid  wildness, 
when  he  writhed  for  an  instant  in  his  passing  ago 
nies,  and  then,  as  his  head  dropped  lifeless  upon 
his  gored  breast,  he  hung  against  the  spar,  a  spec 
tacle  of  dismay  to  his  crew.  A  few  of  the  Eng 
lishmen  stood  chained  to  the  spot  in  silent  horror 
at  the  sight,  but  most  of  them  fled  to  their  lower 
deck,  or  hastened  to  conceal  themselves  in  the  se 
cret  parts  of  the  vessel,  leaving  to  the  Americans 
the  undisputed  possession  of  the  Alacrity. 

Two  thirds  of  the  cutter's  crew  suffered  either 
in  life  or  limbs,  by  this  short  struggle  ;  nor  was 
the  victory  obtained  by  Barnstable  without  paying 
the  price  of  several  valuable  lives.  The  first  burst 
of  conquest  was  not,  however,  the  moment  to  ap 
preciate  the  sacrifice,  and  loud  and  reiterated 
shouts  proclaimed  the  exultation  of  the  conquer 
ors.  As  the  flush  of  victory  subsided,  however7 
recollection  returned,  and  Barnstable  issued  such 
orders  as  humanity  and  his  duty  rendered  neces 
sary.  While  the  vessels  were  separating,  and  the 
bodies  of  the  dead  and  wounded  were  removing, 
the  conqueror  paced  the  deck  of  his  prize,  as  if 
lost  in  deep  reflection.  He  passed  his  hand,  fre- 


THE    PILOT.  263 

quently,  across  his  blackened  and  bloodstained 
brow,  while  his  eyes  would  rise  to  examine  the 
vast  canopy  of  smoke  that  was  hovering  above  the 
vessels,  like  a  dense  fog  exhaling  from  the  ocean. 
The  result  of  his  deliberations  was  soon  announced 
to  his  crew. 

"  Haul  down  all  your  flags,"  he  cried  ;  "  set  the 
Englishman's  colours  again,  and  show  the  enemy's 
jack  above  our  ensign  in  the  Ariel." 

The  appearance  of  the  whole  channel-fleet  with 
in  half  gun  shot,  would  not  have  occasioned  more 
astonishment  among  the  victors,  than  this  extra 
ordinary  mandate.  The  wondering  seamen  sus 
pended  their  several  employments,  to  gaze  at  the 
singular  change  that  was  making  in  the  flags,  those 
symbols  that  were  viewed  with  a  sort  of  reverence, 
but  none  presumed  to  comment  openly  on  the  pro 
cedure  except  long  Tom,  who  stood  on  the  quar 
ter-deck  of  the  prize,  straightening  the  pliable  iron 
of  the  harpoon  which  he  had  recovered,  with  as 
much  care  and  diligence  as  if  it  were  necessary  to 
the  maintenance  of  their  conquest.  Like  the  others, 
however,  he  suspended  his  employment,  when  he 
heard  this  order,  and  manifested  no  reluctance  to 
express  his  dissatisfaction  at  the  measure. 

"  If  the  Englishmen  grumble  at  the  fight,  and 
think  it  not  fair  play,"  muttered  the  old  cockswain, 
"  let  us  try  it  over  again,  sir  ;  as  they  are  some 
what  short  of  hands,  they  can  send  a  boat  to  the 
land,  and  get  off  a  gang  of  them  lazy  riptyles,  the 
soldiers,  who  stand  looking  at  us,  like  so  many 
red  lizards  crawling  on  a  beach,  and  we'll  give 
them  another  chance  ;  but  damme,  if  I  see  the  use 
of  whipping  them,  if  this  is  to  be  the  better  end  of 
the  matter." 

"  What's  that   you're  grumbling  there,  like  a 


264  THE    PILOT. 

dead  north-easter,  you  horse  mackerel  !"  sale 
Barnstable  ;  "  where  are  our  friends  and  country 
men  who  are  on  the  land  !  are  we  to  leave  them 
to  swing  on  gibbets  or  rot  in  dungeons  !" 

The  cockswain  listened  with  great  earnestness, 
and  when  his  commander  had  spoken,  he  struck 
the  palm  of  his  broad  hand  against  his  brawny 
thigh,  with  a  report  like  a  pistol,  and  answered, 

"  I  see  how  it  is,  sir ;  you  reckon  the  red  coats 
have  Mr.  Griffith  in  tow.  Just  run  the  schooner 
into  shoal  water,  Captain  Barnstable,  and  drop  an 
anchor,  where  we  can  get  the  long  gun  to  bear  on 
them,  and  give  me  the  whale-boat  and  five  or  six 
men  to  back  me — they  must  have  long  legs  if  they 
get  an  offing  before  I  run  them  aboard  !" 

"Fool!  do  you  think  a  boat's  crew  could  con 
tend  with  fifty  armed  soldiers  !" 

"  Soldiers !"  echoed  Tom,  whose  spirits  had 
been  strongly  excited  by  the  conflict,  snapping  his 
fingers  with  ineffable  disdain,  "  that  for  all  the  sol 
diers  that  were  ever  rigged  :  one  whale  could  kill 
a  thousand  of  them  !  and  here  stands  the  man  that 
has  killed  his  round  hundred  of  whales  !" 

"  Pshaw,  you  grampus,  do  you  turn  braggart  in 
your  old  age." 

"  It's  no  bragging,  sir,  to  speak  a  log-book 
truth  !  but  if  Captain  Barnstable  thinks  that  old 
Tom  Coffin  carries  a  speaking  trumpet  for  a 
figure  head,  let  him  pass  the  word  forrard  to  man 
the  boats." 

"  No,  no,  my  old  master  at  the  marlingspike," 
said  Barnstable,  kindly,  "  I  know  thee  too  well, 
thou  brother  of  Neptune  !  but,  shall  we  not  throw 
the  bread-room  dust  in  those  Englishmen's  eyes, 
by  wearing  their  bunting  awhile,  till  something 
may  offer  to  help  our  captured  countrymen." 


THE    PILOT.  265 

The  cockswain  shook  his  head,  and  cogitated  a 
moment,  as  if  struck  with  sundry  new  ideas,  when 
the  matter,  they  will  sheet  them  down  to  their 
leather  neckcloths  1" 

With  this  reflection  the  cockswain  was  much 
consoled,  and  the  business  of  repairing  damages  and 
securing  the  prize,  proceeded  without  further  in 
terruption  on  his  part.  The  few  prisoners  who 
were  unhurt,  were  rapidly  transferred  to  the  Ariel. 
While  Barnstable  was  attending  to  this  duty,  an 
unusual  bustle  drew  his  eyes  to  one  of  the  hatch 
ways,  where  he  beheld  a  couple  of  his  marines 
dragging  forward  a  gentleman,  whose  demeanour 
and  appearance  indicated  the  most  abject  terror, 
After  examining  the  extraordinary  appearance  of 
this  individual,  for  a  moment,  in  silent  amazement, 
the  lieutenant  exclaimed — 

"  Who  have  we  here  !  some  amateur  in  fights  ! 
an  inquisitive,  wonder-seeking  non-combatant,  who 
has  volunteered  to  serve  his  king,  and  perhaps 
draw  a  picture,  or  write  a  book,  to  serve  himself ! 
Pray,  sir,  in  what  capacity  did  you  serve  in  this 
vessel  ?" 

The  captive  ventured  a  sidelong  glance  at  his 
interrogator,  in  whom  he  expected  to  encounter 
Griffith,  but  perceiving  that  it  was  a  face  he  did 
not  know,  he  felt  a  revival  of  confidence  that  ena 
bled  him  to  reply — 

"  I  came  here  by  accident ;  being  on  board  the 
cutter  at  the  time  her  late  commander  determined 
to  engage  you.  It  was  not  in  his  power  to  land 
23 


266  THE    PILOT. 

me,  as  I  trust  you  will  not  hesitate  to  do;  youi 
conjecture  of  my  being  a  non-combatant — " 

"  Is  perfectly  true,"  interrupted  Barnstable, 
"  it  requires  no  spy-glass  to  read  that  name  writ 
ten  on  you  from  stem  to  stern  ;  but  for  certain 
weighty  reasons — " 

He  paused  to  turn  at  a  signal  given  him  by 
young  Merry,  who  whispered  eagerly  in  his  ear — 

"  'Tis  Mr.  Dillon,  kinsman  of  Colonel  Howard  ; 
I've  seen  him  often,  sailing  in  the  wake  of  my 
cousin  Cicily." 

"  Dillon !"  exclaimed  Barnstable,  rubbing  his 
hands  with  pleasure  ;  "  what,  Kit  of  that  name  ! 
he  with  '  the  Savannah  face,  eyes  of  black,  and 
skin  of  the  same  colour  ;'  he's  grown  a  little  whiter 
with  fear ;  but  he's  a  prize,  at  this  moment,  worth 
twenty  Alacritys  !" 

These  exclamations  were  made  in  a  low  voice, 
and  at  some  little  distance  from  the  prisoner,  whom 
he  now  approached  and  addressed — 

"  Policy,  and  consequently  duty,  require  that  1 
should  detain  you  for  a  short  time,  sir ;  but  you 
shall  have  a  sailor's  welcome  to  whatever  we  pos 
sess,  to  lessen  the  weight  of  captivity." 

Barnstable  precluded  any  reply,  by  bowing  to 
his  captive,  and  turning  away,  to  superintend  the 
management  of  his  vessels.  In  a  short  time  it  was 
announced  that  they  were  ready  to  make  sail, 
when  the  Ariel  and  her  prize  were  brought  close 
to  the  wind,  and  commenced  beating  slowly  along 
the  land,  as  if  intending  to  return  to  the  bay  whence 
the  latter  had  sailed  that  morning.  As  they  stretch 
ed  into  the  shore,  on  the  first  tack,  the  soldiers  on 
the  cliffs  rent  the  air  with  their  shouts  and  accla 
mations,  to  which  Barnstable,  pointing  to  the  as 
sumed  symbols  that  were  fluttering  in  the  breeze 
from  his  masts,  directed  his  crew  to  respond  in  the 


THE    PILOT.  267 

most  cordial  manner  As  the  distance,  and  the 
want  of  boats,  prevented  any  further  communica 
tion,  the  soldiers,  after  gazing  at  the  receding  ves 
sels  for  a  time,  disappeared  from  the  cliffs,  and 
were  soon  lost  from  the  sight  of  the  adventurous 
mariners.  Hour  after  hour  was  consumed  in  the 
tedious  navigation,  against  an  adverse  tide,  and  the 
short  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  before  they  ap 
proached  the  mouth  of  their  destined  haven.  While 
making  one  of  their  numerous  stretches,  to  and 
from  the  land,  the  cutter,  in  which  Barnstable  con 
tinued,  passed  the  victim  of  their  morning's  sport, 
riding  on  the  water,  the  waves  curling  over  his 
huge  carcass  as  on  some  rounded  rock,  and  already 
surrounded  by  the  sharks,  who  were  preying  on 
his  defenceless  body. 

"  See !  Master  Coffin,"  cried  the  lieutenant, 
pointing  out  the  object  to  his  cockswain  as  they 
glided  by  it,  "  the  shovel-nosed  gentlemen  are  re 
galing  daintily;  you  have  neglected  the  Christian's 
duty  of  burying  your  dead." 

The  old  seaman  cast  a  melancholy  look  at  the 
dead  whale,  and  replied, 

"  If  I  had  the  creatur  in  Boston  Bay,  or  on  the 
Sandy  Point  of  Munny-Moy,  'twould  be  the  making 
of  me !  But  riches  and  honour  are  for  the  grea, 
and  the  larned,  and  there's  nothing  left  for  poor 
Tom  Coffin  to  do,  but  to  veer  and  haul  on  his  own 
rolling-tackle,  that  he  may  ride  out  the  rest  of  the 
gale  of  life,  without  springing  any  of  his  old  spars." 

"  How  now,  long  Tom  !"  cried  his  officer, 
"  these  rocks  and  cliffs  will  shipwreck  you  on  the 
shoals  of  poetry  yet ;  you  grow  sentimental !" 

"  Them  rocks  might  wrack  any  vessel  that 
struck  them,"  said  the  literal  cockswain  ;  r<  and  as 
for  poetry,  I  wants  none  better  than  the  good  old 
song  of  Captain  Kid  ;  but  it's  enough  to  raise  so- 


268  THE    i'lLOT. 

lemn  thoughts  in  a  Cape  Poge  Indian,  to  see  an 
eighty  barrel  whale  devoured  by  shirks — 'tis  an 
awful  waste  of  property !  I've  seen  the  death  of 
two  hundred  of  the  creaturs,  though  it  seems  to 
keep  the  rations  of  poor  old  long  Tom  as  short  as 
ever." 

The  cockswain  walked  aft,  while  the  vessel  was 
passing  the  whale,  and  seating  himself  on  the  taf- 
frail,  with  his  face  resting  gloomily  on  his  bony 
hand,  he  fastened  his  eyes  on  the  object  of  his  so-- 
licitude,  and  continued  to  gaze  at  it  with  melan 
choly  regret,  while  it  was  to  be  seen  glistening  in 
the  sunbeams,  as  it  rolled  its  glittering  side  of  white 
into  the  air,  or  the  rays  fell  unreflected  on  the 
black  and  rougher  coat  of  the  back  of  the  monster. 
In  the  mean  time,  the  navigators  diligently  pur 
sued  their  way  for  the  haven  we  have  mentioned, 
into  which  they  steered  with  every  appearance  of 
the  fearlessness  of  friends,  and  the  exultation  of 
conquerors. 

A  few  eager  and  gratified  spectators  lined  the 
edges  of  the  small  bay,  and  Barnstable  concluded 
his  arrangement  for  deceiving  the  enemy,  by  ad 
monishing  his  crew,  that  they  were  now  about  to 
enter  on  a  service  that  would  require  their  utmost 
intrepidity  and  sagacity. 


CHAPTER  XYin. 


u  OUT  trumpet  called  you  to  thii  gentle  parle." 

King  John. 

As  Griffith  and  his  companions  rushed  from 
the  offices  of  St.  Ruth,  into  the  open  air,  they 
encountered  no  one  to  intercept  their  flight,  or 
communicate  the  alarm.  Warned  by  the  expe 
rience  of  the  earlier  part  of  the  same  night,  they 
avoided  the  points  where  they  knew  the  sentinels 
were  posted,  though  fully  prepared  to  bear  down 
all  resistance,  and  were  soon  beyond  the  proba 
bility  of  immediate  detection.  They  proceeded, 
for  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  with  rapid  strides, 
and  with  the  stern  and  sullen  silence  of  men  wrho 
expected  to  encounter  immediate  danger,  resol 
ved  to  breast  it  with  desperate  resolution  ;  but,  as 
they  plunged  into  a  copse,  that  clustered  around 
the  ruin  which  has  been  already  mentioned,  they 
lessened  their  exertions  to  a  more  deliberate  pace, 
and  a  short  but  guarded  dialogue  ensued. 

"  We  have  had  a  timely  escape,"  said  Grif 
fith  ;  "  I  would  much  rather  have  endured  cap 
tivity  than  have  been  the  cause  of  introducing 


270  THE    PILOT. 

confusion   and  bloodshed  into  the   peaceful  resi 
dence  of  Colonel  Howard." 

"  I  would,  sir,  that  you  had  been  of  this 
opinion  some  hours  earlier,"  returned  the  pilot, 
with  a  severity  in  his  tones  that  even  conveyed 
more  meaning  than  his  words. 

"  I  may  have  forgotten  my  duty,  sir,  in  my 
anxiety  to  inquire  into  the  condition  of  a  family 
in  whom  I  feel  a  particular  interest,"  returned 
Griffith,  in  a  manner  in  which  pride  evidently 
struggled  with  respect ;  "  but  this  is  not  a  time 
for  regrets  ;  I  apprehend  that  we  follow  you  on  an 
errand  of  some  moment,  where  actions  would  be 
more  acceptable  than  any  words  of  apology.  What 
is  your  pleasure  now  ?" 

"  I  much  fear  that  our  project  will  be  defeated," 
said  the  pilot,  gloomily ;  "  the  alarm  will  spread 
with  the  morning  fogs,  and  there  will  be  muster- 
ings  of  the  yeomen,  and  consultations  of  the  gen 
try,  that  will  drive  all  thoughts  of  amusement  from 
their  minds.  The  rumour  of  a  descent  will,  at 
any  time,  force  sleep  from  the  shores  of  this  island, 
to  at  least  ten  leagues  inland." 

"  Ay,  you  have  probably  passed  some  pleasant 
nights,  with  your  eyes  open,  among  them,  your 
self,  Master  Pilot,"  said  Manual  ;  "  they  may 
thank  the  Frenchman,  Thurot,  in  the  old  business 
of '56,  and  our  own  dare-devil,  the  bloody  Scotch 
man,  as  the  causes  of  their  quarters  being  so  often 
beaten  up.  After  all,  Thurot,  with  his  fleet,  did 
no  more  than  bully  them  a  little,  and  the  poor  fel 
low  was  finally  extinguished  by  a  few  small  crui 
sers,  like  a  drummer's  boy  under  a  grenadier's 
cap ;  but  honest  Paul  sung  a  different  tune  for  his 
countrymen  to  dance  to,  and — " 

"  I  believe  you  will  shortly  dance  yourself,  Ma 
nual,"  interrupted  Griffith,  quickly  "  and  in  very 


THE    PILOT.  271 

pleasure  that  you  have  escaped  an  English  pri 
son." 

"  Say,  rather,  an  English  gibbet,"  continued  the 
elated  marine  ;  "  for  had  a  court-martial  or  a 
court-civil  discussed  the  manner  of  our  entrance 
into  this  island,  I  doubt  whether  we  should  have 
fared  better  than  the  dare-devil  himself,  honest — " 

"  Pshaw  !"  exclaimed  the  impatient  Griffith, 
"  enough  of  this  nonsense,  Capt.  Manual :  we  have 
other  matters  to  discuss  now  ; — what  course  have 
you  determined  to  pursue,  Mr.  Gray  ?" 

The  pilot  started,  like  a  man  aroused  from  a 
deep  musing  at  this  question,  and  after  a  pause  of 
a  moment,  he  spoke  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  as  if 
still  under  the  influence  of  deep  and  melancholy 
feeling — 

"  The  night  has  already  run  into  the  morning 
watck,  but  the  sun  is  backward  to  show  himself  in 
this  latitude  in  the  heart  of  winter — I  must  depart, 
my  friends,  to  rejoin  you  some  ten  hours  hence ;  it 
will  be  necessary  to  look  deeper  into  our  scheme 
before  we  hazard  any  thing,  and  no  one  can  do 
the  service  but  myself — where  shall  we  meet 
again  ?" 

"  I  have  reason  to  think  that  there  is  an  unfre 
quented  ruin,  at  no  great  distance  from  us,"  said 
Griffith ;  "  perhaps  we  might  find  both  shelter  and 
privacy  among  its  deserted  walls." 

"  The  thought  is  good,"  returned  the  pilot,  "  and 
'twill  answer  a  double  purpose.  Could  you  find 
the  place  where  you  put  the  marines  in  ambush 
Captain  Manual  ?" 

"  Has  a  dog  a  nose  !  and  can  he  follow  a  clean 
scent !"  exclaimed  the  marine  ;  "do  you  think 
Signior  Pilota,  that  a  general  ever  puts  his  forces 
in  an  ambuscade  where  he  can't  find  them  him 
self?  'Fore  God  !  I  knew  well  enough  where  the 


272  THE    PILOT. 

rascals  lay  snoring  on  their  knapsacks,  some  half- 
an-hour  ago,  and  I  would  have  given  the  oldest 
majority  in  Washington's  army  to  have  had  them 
where  a  small  intimation  from  myself  could  have 
brought  them  in  line  ready  dressed  for  a  charge.  1 
know  not  how  you  fared,  gentlemen,  but  with  me, 
the  sight  of  twenty  such  vagabonds  would  have 
been  a  joyous  spectacle ;  we  would  have  tossed 
that  Captain  Borroughcliffe  and  his  recruits  on  the 
point  of  our  bayonets,  as  the  devil  would  pitch — " 

"  Come,  come,  Manual,"  said  Griffith,  a  little 
angrily,  "  you  constantly  forget  our  situation  and 
our  errand  ;  can  you  lead  your  men  hither  without 
discovery,  before  the  day  dawns  ?" 

"  I  want  but  the  shortest  half-hour  that  a  bad 
watch  ever  travelled  over  to  do-  it  in.r 

"  Then  follow,  and  I  will  appoint  a  place  of 
secret  rendezvous,"  rejoined  Griffith ;  Mr.  Gray 
can  learn  our  situation  at  the  same  time." 

The  pilot  was  seen  to  beckon,  through  the 
gloom  of  the  night,  for  his  companions  to  move 
forward,  when  they  proceeded,  with  cautious  steps, 
in  quest  of  the  desired  shelter.  A  short  search 
brought  them  in  contact  with  a  part  of  the  ruinous 
walls  which  spread  over  a  large  surface,  and  which, 
in  places,  reared  their  black  fragments  against  the 
sky,  casting  a  deeper  obscurity  across  the  secret 
recesses  of  the  wood. 

"This  will  do,"  said  Griffith,  when  they  had 
skirted  for  same  distance  the  outline  of  the  crum 
bling  fabric  ;  "  bring  up  your  men  to  this  point, 
where  I  will  meet  you,  and  conduct  them  to  some 
more  secret  place,  for  which  I  shall  search  during 
yonr  absence. 

"  A  perfect  paradise,  after  the  cable-tiers  of  the 
Ariel !"  exclaimed  Manual ;  "  I  doubt  not  but  a 
good  spot  might  be  se/ected  among  these  trees  foi 


THE    PILOT.  273 

a  steady  drill ;  a  thing  my  soul  has  pined  after  for 
six  long  months." 

"  Away,  away !"  cried  Griffith ;  "  here  is  no  place 
for  idle  parades  ;  if  we  find  shelter  from  discove 
ry  and  capture  until  you  shall  be  needed  in  a  dead 
ly  struggle,  'twill  be  well." 

Manual  was  slowly  retracing  his  steps  to  the 
skirts  of  the  wood,  when  he  suddenly  turned,  and 
asked — 

"  Shall  I  post  a  small  picket,  a  mere  corporal's 
guard,  in  the  open  ground  in  front,  and  make  a 
chain  of  sentinels  to  our  works  ?" 

"  We  have  no  works — we  want  no  sentinels," 
returned  his  impatient  commander ;  "  our  securi 
ty  is  only  to  be  found  in  secrecy.  Lead  up  youi 
men  under  the  cover  of  the  trees,  and  let  those 
three  bright  stars  be  your  landmarks — bring  them 
in  a  range  with  the  northern  corner  of  the  wood — " 

"  Enough,  Mr.  Griffith,"  interrupted  Manual , 
u  a  column  of  troops  is  not  to  be  steered  like  a 
ship,  by  compass,  and  bearings  and  distances; — 
trust  me,  sir,  the  march  shall  be  conducted  with 
proper  discretion,  though  in  a  military  manner." 

Any  reply  or  expostulation  was  prevented  by 
the  sudden  disappearance  of  the  marine,  whose 
retreating  footsteps  were  heard  for  several  mo 
ments,  as  he  moved  at  a  deliberate  pace  through 
the  underwood.  During  this  short  interval,  the 
pilot  stood  reclining  against  a  corner  of  the  ruins  in 
profound  silence,  but  when  the  sounds  of  Manual's 
march  were  no  longer  audible,  he  advanced  from 
under  the  deeper  shadows  of  the  wall,  and  ap 
proached  his  youthful  companion. 

"  We  are  indebted  to  the  marine  for  our  es 
cape,"  he  said ;  "  I  hope  we  are  not  to  surfer  by  his 
folly." 

"  He  is  what    Barn  stable   calls  a  rectangular 


274  THE    PILOT. 

man,"  returned  Griffith,  "  and  will  have  his  way 
in  matters  of  his  profession,  though  a  daring  com 
panion  in  a  hazardous  expedition.  If  we  can  keep 
him  from  exposing  us  by  his  silly  parade,  we  shall 
find  him  a  man  who  will  do  his  work  like  a  soldier, 
sir,  when  need  happens. '* 

"  'Tis  all  I  ask ;  until  the  last  moment  he  and 
his  command  must  be  torpid  ;  for  if  we  are  dis 
covered,  any  attempt  of  ours,  with  some  twenty 
bayonets  and  a  half-pike  or  two,  would  be  useless 
against  the  force  that  would  be  brought  to  crush 
us." 

(( The  truth  of  your  opinion  is  too  obvious," 
returned  Griffith  ;  "  these  fellows  will  sleep  a 
week  at  a  time  in  a  gale  at  sea,  but  the  smell  of 
the  land  wakes  them  up,  and  I  fear  'twill  be  hard 
to  keep  them  close  during  the  day." 

"  It  must  be  done,  sir,  by  the  strong  hand  of 
force,"  said  the  pilot,  sternly,  "  if  it  cannot  be  done 
by  admonition ;  if  we  had  no  more  than  the  re 
cruits  of  that  drunken  martinet  to  cope  with,  it 
would  be  no  hard  task  to  drive  them  into  the  sea; 
but  I  learned  in  my  prison  that  horse  are  expected 
on  the  shore  with  the  dawn  ;  there  is  one  they 
call  Dillon  who  is  on  the  alert  to  do  us  mischief." 
"  The  miscreant !"  muttered  Griffith  ;  "  then 
you  also  have  had  communion,  sir,  with  some  of 
ihe  inmates  of  St.  Ruth  ?" 

"  It  behooves  a  man  who  is  embarked  in  a  pe 
rilous  enterprise  to  seize  all  opportunities  to  learn 
his  hazard,"  said  the  pilot,  evasively ;  "  if  the  re 
port  be  true,  I  fear  we  have  but  little  hopes  of  suc 
ceeding  in  our  plans." 

"  Nay,  then,  let  us  take  the  advantage  of  the 
darkness  to  regain  the  schooner ;  the  coasts  of 
England  swarm  with  hostile  cruisers,  and  a  rich 
trade  is  flowing  into  the  bosom  of  this  island 


THE    PILOT.  275 

from  the  four  quarters  of  the  world ;  we  shall 
not  seek  long  for  a  foe  worthy  to  contend  with> 
nor  for  the  opportunities  to  cut  up  the  Englishman 
in  his  sinews  of  war — his  wealth." 

"  Griffith,"  returned  the  pilot  in  his  still,  low 
tones,  that  seemed  to  belong  to  a  man  who  never 
knew  ambition,  nor  felt  human  passion,  "  I  grow 
sick  of  this  struggle  between  merit  and  privileged 
rank.  It  is  in  vain  that  I  scour  the  waters  which 
the  King  of  England  boastingly  calls  his  own, 
and  capture  his  vessels  in  the  very  mouths  of  his 
harbours,  if  my  reward  is  to  consist  only  of  vio 
lated  promises,  and  hollow  professions :  but  your 
proposition  is  useless  to  me ;  I  have  at  length  ob 
tained  a  ship  of  a  size  sufficient  to  convey  my 
person  to  the  shores  of  honest,  plain-dealing  Ame 
rica,  and  I  would  enter  the  hall  of  congress,  on 
my  return,  attended  by  a  few  of  the  legislators  of 
this  learned  isle,  who  think  they  possess  the  ex- 
elusive  privilege  to  be  wise,  and  virtuous,  and 
great." 

"  Such  a  retinue  might  doubtless  be  grateful 
both  to  your  own  feelings  and  those  who  would 
receive  you,"  said  Griffith,  modestly  ;  "  but  would 
it  affect  the  great  purposes  of  our  struggle,  or  is  it 
an  exploit,  when  achieved,  worth  the  hazard  you 
incur  ? 

Griffith  felt  the  hand  of  the  pilot  on  his  own, 
pressing  it  with  a  convulsive  grasp,  as  he  replied, 
in  a  voice,  if  possible,  even  more  desperately  calm 
than  his  former  tones — 

"  There  is  glory  in  it,  young  man ;  if  it  be 
purchased  with  danger,  it  shall  be  rewarded  by 
fame !  It  is  true,  I  wear  your  republican  livery, 
and  call  the  Americans  my  brothers,  but  it  is  be 
cause  you  combat  in  behalf  of  human  nature. 
Were  your  cause  less  holy,  I  would  not  shed  the 


276  THE    PILOT. 

meanest  drop  that  flows  in  English  veins  to  serve 
it ;  but  now,  it  hallows  every  exploit  that  is  under 
taken  in  its  favour,  and  the  names  of  all  who  con 
tend  for  it  shall  belong  to  posterity.  Is  there  no 
merit  in  teaching  these  proud  islanders  that  the 
arm  of  liberty  can  pluck  them  from  the  very  em 
pire  of  their  corruption  and  oppression  ?" 

"  Then  let  me  go  and  ascertain  what  we  most 
wish  to  know;  you  have  been  seen  there,  and 
might  attract — " 

"  You  little  know  me,"  interrupted  the  pilot ; 
"  the  deed  is  my  own.  If  I  succeed,  I  shall  claim 
the  honour,  and  it  is  proper  that  I  incur  the  ha 
zard  ;  if  I  fail,  it  will  be  buried  in  oblivion,  like 
fifty  others  of  my  schemes,  which,  had  I  power 
to  back  me,  would  have  thrown  this  kingdom 
in  consternation,  from  the  look-outs  on  the  bold 
est  of  its  headlands,  to  those  on  the  turrets  of 
Windsor-Castle.  But  I  was  born  without  the  no 
bility  of  twenty  generations  to  corrupt  my  blood 
and  deaden  my  soul,  and  am  not  trusted  by  the 
degenerate  wretches  who  rule  the  French  ma 
rine." 

'°Tis  said  that  ships  of  two  decks  are  building 
from  our  own  oak/'  said  Griffith  ;  "  and  you  have 
only  to  present  yourself  in  America,  to  be  employ 
ed  most  honourably." 

c<  Ay  !  the  republics  cannot  doubt  the  man 
who  has  supported  their  flag,  without  lowering  it 
an  inch,  in  so  many  bloody  conflicts !  I  do  go 
there,  Griffith,  but  my  way  lies  on  this  path ;  my 
pretended  friends  have  bound  my  hands  often, 
but  my  enemies,  never — neither  shall  they  now. 
Ten  hours  will  determine  all  I  wish  to  know,  and 
with  you  I  trust  the  safety  of  the  party  till  my  re 
turn  ;  be  vigilant,  but  be  prudent." 

"  If  you  should  not   appear  at  the  appointe 


THE    PILOT.  277 

hour,"  exclaimed  Griffith,  as  he  held  the  pilot 
turning  to  depart,  "  where  am  I  to  seek,  and  how 
serve  you  ?" 

"Seek  me  not,  but  return  to  your  vessel ;  my 
earliest  years  were  passed  on  this  coast,  and  I 
can  leave  the  island,  should  it  be  necessary,  as  I 
entered  it,  aided  by  this  disguise  and  my  own 
knowledge  ;  in  such  an  event,  look  to  your  charge, 
and  forget  me  entirely." 

Griffith  could  distinguish  the  silent  wave  of  his 
hand  when  the  pilot  concluded,  and  the  next  in 
stant  he  was  left  alone.  For  several  minutes  the 
young  man  continued  where  he  had  been  stand 
ing,  musing  on  the  singular  endowments  and 
restless  enterprise  of  the  being  with  whom  chance 
had  thus  unexpectedly  brought  him  in  contact, 
and  with  whose  fate  and  fortune  his  own  prospects 
had,  by  the  intervention  of  unlooked-for  circum 
stances,  become  intimately  connected.  When  the 
reflections  excited  by  recent  occurrences  had  pass 
ed  away,  he  entered  within  the  sweeping  circle  of 
the  ruinous  walls,  and  after  a  very  cursory  sur 
vey  of  the  state  of  the  dilapidated  building,  he 
was  satisfied  that  it  contained  enough  secret 
places  to  conceal  his  men,  until  the  return  of 
the  pilot  should  warn  them  that  the  hour  had 
come  when  they  must  attempt  the  seizure  of  the 
devoted  sportsmen,  or  darkness  should  again  fa 
cilitate  their  return  to  the  Ariel.  It  was  now 
about  the  commencement  of  that  period  of  deep 
night,  which  seamen  distinguish  as  the  morning 
watch,  and  Griffith  ventured  to  the  edge  of  the 
little  wood,  to  listen  if  any  sounds  or  tumult  in 
dicated  that  they  were  pursued.  On  reaching  a 
point  where  his  eye  could  faintly  distinguish  dis 
tant  objects,  the  young  man  paused,  and  bestowed 
24 


278  THE    PILOT. 

a  close  and  wary  investigation  on  the  surrounding 
scene. 

The  fury  of  the  gale  had  sensibly  abated,  but 
a  steady  current  of  sea  air  was  rushing  through 
the  naked  branches  of  the  oaks,  lending  a  dreary 
and  mournful  sound  to  the  gloom  of  the  dim  pros 
pect.  At  the  distance  of  a  short  half  mile,  the 
confused  outline  of  the  pile  of  St.  Ruth  rose 
proudly  against  the  streak  of  light  which  was  gra 
dually  increasing  above  the  ocean,  and  there  were 
moments  when  the  young  seaman  even  fancied  he 
could  discern  the  bright  caps  that  topped  the 
waves  of  his  own  disturbed  element.  The  long, 
dull  roar  of  the  surf,  as  it  tumbled  heavily  on  the 
beach,  or  dashed  with  unbroken  violence  against 
the  hard  boundary  of  rocks,  was  borne  along  by 
the  blasts  distinctly  to  his  ears.  It  was  a  time 
and  a  situation  to  cause  the  young  seaman  to 
ponder  deeply  on  the  changes  and  chances  of  his 
hazardous  profession.  Only  a  few  short  hours 
had  passed  since  he  was  striving  with  his  utmost 
skill,  and  with  all  his  collected  energy,  to  guide 
the  enormous  fabric,  in  wThich  so  many  of  his 
comrades  were  now  quietly  sleeping  on  the  broac 
ocean,  from  that  very  shore  on  which  he  now  stooa 
in  cool  indifference  to  the  danger.  The  re 
collection  of  home,  America,  his  youthful  and 
enduring  passion,  and  the  character  arid  charms 
of  his  mistress,  blended  in  a  sort  of  wild  and  fe 
verish  confusion,  which  was  not,  however,  without 
its  pleasures,  in  the  ardent  fancy  of  the  young 
man,  and  he  was  slowly  approaching,  step  by 
step,  towards  the  abbey,  when  the  sound  of  foot 
steps,  proceeding  evidently  from  the  measured 
tread  of  disciplined  men,  reached  his  ears.  He 
was  instantly  recalled  to  his  recollection  by  this 


THE    PILOT.  279 

noise,  which  increased  as  the  party  deliberately 
approached,  and  in  a  few  moments  he  was  able 
to  distinguish  a  line  of  men,  marching  in  order  to 
wards  the  edge  of  the  wood,  from  which  he  had 
himself  so  recently  issued.  Retiring  rapidly  under 
the  deeper  shadow  of  the  trees,  he  waited  until  it 
was  apparent  the  party  intended  to  enter  under  its 
cover  also,  when  he  ventured  to  speak — 

"  Who  comes,  and  on  what  errand  ?"  he  cried. 

"  A  skulker,  and  to  burrow  like  a  rabbit,  or 
jump  from  hole  to  hole,  like  a  wharf-rat !"  said 
Manual,  sulkily  ;  "  here  have  I  been  marching, 
within  half-musket  shot  of  the  enemy,  without 
daring  to  pull  a  trigger  even  on  their  out-posts, 
because  our  muzzles  are  plugged  with  that  uni 
versal  extinguisher  of  gunpowder,  called  prudence. 
'Fore  God  !  Mr.  Griffith,  I  hope  you  may  never 
feel  the  temptation  to  do  an  evil  deed,  which  I  felt 
just  now  to  throw  a  volley  of  small  shot  into  that 
dog-kennel  of  a  place,  if  it  were  only  to  break  its 
windows  and  let  in  the  night  air  upon  the  sleeping 
sot,  who  is  dozing  away  the  fumes  of  some  as  good, 
old,  south-side — harkye,  Mr.  Griffith,  one  word  in 
your  ear." 

A  short  conference  took  place  between  the  two 
officers,  apart  from  the  men,  at  the  close  of  which, 
as  they  rejoined  the  party,  Manual  might  be  heard 
urging  his  plans  on  the  reluctant  ears  of  Griffith, 
in  the  following  words  : — 

"  I  could  carry  the  old  dungeon  without  waking 
one  of  the  snorers ;  and  consider,  sir,  we  might  get 
a  stock  of  as  rich  cordial  from  its  cellars  as  ever 
oiled  the  throat  of  a  gentleman  !" 

"  'Tis  idle,  'tis  idle,"  said  Griffith,  impatiently ; 
"  we  are  not  robbers  of  hen-roosts,  nor  wine-gau- 
gers,  to  be  prying  into  the  vaults  of  the  English 
gentry,  Captain  Manual,  but  honourable  men, 


280  THE    PILOT. 

employed  in  the  sacred  cause  of  liberty  and  our 
country.  Lead  your  party  into  the  ruin,  and  let 
them  seek  their  rest ;  we  may  have  work  for  them 
with  the  dawn." 

"  Evil  was  the  hour  when  I  quitted  the  line  of 
the  army,  to  place  a  soldier  under  the  orders  of 
an  awkward  squad  of  tarry  jackets !"  muttered 
Manual,  as  he  proceeded  to  execute  an  order  that 
was  delivered  with  an  air  of  authority  that  he  knew 
must  be  obeyed.  "  As  pretty  an  opportunity  for 
a  surprise  and  a  forage  thrown  away,  as  ever 
crossed  the  path  of  a  partisan  !  but,  by  all  the 
rights  of  man !  I'll  have  an  encampment  in  some 
order.  Here,  you  Serjeant,  detail  a  corporal  and 
three  men  for  a  picket,  and  station  them  in  the 
skirts  of  this  wood.  We  shall  have  a  sentinel  in 
advance  of  our  position,  and  things  shall  be  con 
ducted  with  some  air  of  discipline." 

Griffith  heard  this  order  with  great  inward  dis 
gust  ;  but  as  he  anticipated  the  return  of  the  pilot 
before  the  light  could  arrive  to  render  this  weak 
exposure  of  their  situation  apparent,  he  forbore 
exercising  his  power  to  alter  the  arrangement. 
Manual  had,  therefore,  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
his  little  party  quartered  as  he  thought  in  a  mili 
tary  manner,  before  he  retired  with  Griffith  and 
his  men  into  one  of  the  vaulted  apartments  of  the 
ruin,  which,  by  its  open  and  broken  doors,  invited 
their  entrance.  Here  the  marines  disposed  them 
selves  to  rest,  while  the  two  officers  succeeded  in 
passing  the  tedious  hours,  without  losing  their 
characters  for  watchfulness,  by  conversing  with 
each  other,  or,  at  whiles,  suffering  their  thoughts 
to  roam  in  the  very  different  fields  which  fancy 
would  exhibit  to  men  of  such  differing  characters. 
In  this  manner,  hour  after  hour  passed,  in  listless 
quiet,  or  sullen  expectation,  until  the  day  had  gra- 


THE    PILOT.  281 

dually  advanced,  and  it  became  dangerous  to 
keep  the  sentinels  and  picket  in  a  situation,  where 
they  were  liable  to  be  seen  by  any  straggler 
who  might  be  passing  near  the  wood.  Manual 
remonstrated  against  any  alteration,  as  being  en 
tirely  unmilitary,  for  he  was  apt  to  carry  his  no 
tions  of  tactics  to  extremes  whenever  he  came  in 
collision  with  a  sea-officer;  but  in  this  instance 
his  superior  was  firm,  and  the  only  concession 
the  captain  could  obtain  was  the  permission  to 
place  a  solitary  sentinel  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
vault,  though  under  the  cover  of  the  crumbling 
walls  of  the  building  itself.  With  this  slight  devia 
tion  in  their  arrangements,  the  uneasy  party  re 
mained  for  several  hours  longer,  impatiently  await 
ing  the  period  when  they  should  be  required  to 
move. 

The  guns  first  fired  from  the  Alacrity  had  been 
distinctly  audible,  and  were  pronounced  by  Grif 
fith,  whose  practised  ear  detected  the  metal  of  the 
piece  that  was  used,  as  not  proceeding  from  the 
schooner.  When  the  rapid  though  distant  rumbling 
)f  the  spirited  cannonade  became  audible,  it  was 
vvith  difficulty  that  Griffith  could  restrain  either  his 
Dwn  feelings  or  the  conduct  of  his  companions  within 
hose  bounds  that  prudence  and  their  situation  re 
quired.  The  last  gun  was,  however,  fired,  and  not 
a  man  had  left  the  vault,  and  conjectures  as  to  the 
result  of  the  fight,  succeeded  to  those  which  had 
been  made  on  the  character  of  the  combatants  dur 
ing  the  action.  Some  of  the  marines  would  raise 
their  heads  from  the  fragments  which  served  them 
as  the  pillows  on  which  they  were  seeking  dis 
turbed  and  stolen  slumbers,  and  after  listening 
to  the  cannon,  would  again  compose  themselves 
to  sleep,  like  men  who  felt  no  concern  in  a  contest 
in  which  they  did  not  participate.  Others,  more 
24* 


282  THE    PILOT 

alive  to  events,  and  less  drowsy,  lavishly  expended 
their  rude  jokes  on  those  who  were  engaged  in  the 
struggle,  or  listened  with  a  curious  interest  to 
mark  the  progress  of  the  battle,  by  the  uncertain 
index  of  its  noise.  When  the  fight  had  been  some 
time  concluded,  Manual  indulged  his  ill-humour 
more  at  length — 

"  There  has  been  a  party  of  pleasure,  within  a 
league  of  us,  Mr.  Griffith,"  he  said,  "  at  which,  but 
for  our  present  subterraneous  quarters,  we  might 
have  been  guests,  and  thus  laid  some  claim  to  the 
honour  of  sharing  in  the  victory.  But  it  is  not  too 
late  to  push  the  party  on  as  far  as  the  cliffs,  where 
we  shall  be  in  sight  of  the  vessels,  and  we  may 
possibly  establish  a  claim  to  our  share  of  the  prize- 
money." 

"  There  is  but  little  wealth  to  be  gleaned  from 
the  capture  of  a  king's  cutter,"  returned  Griffith, 
"  and  there  would  be  less  honour  were  Barnstable 
encumbered  with  our  additional  and  useless  num 
bers." 

"  Useless  !"  repeated  Manual  ;  u  there  is  much 
good  service  to  be  got  out  of  twenty-three  well- 
drilled  and  well-chosen  marines ;  look  at  those 
fellows,  Mr.  Griffith,  and  then  tell  me  if  you 
would  think  them  an  encumbrance  in  the  hour  of 
need  ?" 

Griffith  smiled  and  glanced  his  eye  over  the  sleep 
ing  group,  for  when  the  firing  had  ceased  the  whole 
party  had  again  sought  their  repose,  and  he  could 
not  help  admiring  the  athletic  and  sinewy  limbs  that 
lay  scattered  around  the  gloomy  vault,  in  every 
posture  that  ease  or  whim  dictated.  From  the 
stout  frames  of  the  men,  his  glance  was  directed 
to  the  stack  of  fire-arms,  from  whose  glittering 
tubes  and  polished  bayonets,  strong  rays  of  light 
were  reflected,  eveja  in  that  dark  apartment.  Ma~ 


THE    PILOT.  283 

nual  followed  the  direction  of  his  eyes,  and 
watched  the  expression  of  his  countenance,  with 
inward  exultation,  but  he  had  the  forbearance  to 
await  his  reply  before  he  manifested  his  feelings 
more  openly 

"  I  know  them  to  be  true  men,"  said  Griffith, 
"  when  needed,  but — hark  !  what  says  he  ?" 

"  Who  goes  there  ?   what  noise  is  that  ?"   re 
peated  the  sentinel  who  was  placed  at  the  entrance 
of  the  vault. 

Manual  and  Griffith  sprang  at  the  same  instant 
from  their  places  of  rest,  and  stood,  unwilling  to 
create  the  slightest  sounds,  listening  with  the  most 
intense  anxiety  to  catch  the  next  indications  of  the 
cause  of  their  guardian's  alarm.  A  short  still 
ness,  like  that  of  death,  succeeded,  during  which 
Griffith  whispered — 

"  'Tis  the  pilot ;  his  hour  has  been  long  passed." 

The  words  were  hardly  spoken,  when  the  clash 
ing  of  steel  in  fierce  and  sudden  contact  was 
heard,  and  at  the  next  instant  the  body  of  the  sen 
tinel  fell  heavily  along  the  stone  steps  that  led  to 
the  open  air,  and  rolled  lifelessly  to  their  feet,  with 
the  bayonet  that  had  caused  his  death,  projecting 
from  a  deep  wound  in  his  breast. 

"  Away,  away  !  sleepers  away  !"  shouted  Grit 
nth. 

"  To  arms !"  cried  Manual,  in  a  voice  of  thun 
der. 

The  alarmed  marines,  suddenly  aroused  from 
their  slumbers  at  these  thrilling  cries,  sprang  on 
their  feet  in  a  confused  cluster,  and  at  that  fatal 
moment  a  body  of  living  fire  darted  into  the  vault, 
which  re-echoed  with  the  reports  of  twenty  mus 
kets.  The  uproar,  the  smoke,  and  the  groans 
which  escaped  from  many  of  his  paity,  could 
not  restrain  Griffith  another  instant ;  his  pistol 


284  THE    PILOT. 

was  fired  through  the  cloud  which  concealed  the 
entrance  of  the  vault,  and  he  followed  the  leaden 
messenger,  trailing  a  half-pike,  and  shuuting  to  his 
men — 

"  Come  on  !  follow,  my  lads ;  they  are  nothing 
but  soldiers." 

Even  while  he  spoke,  the  ardent  young  seaman 
was  rushing  up  the  narrow  passage  ;  but  as  he 
gained  the  open  space,  his  foot  struck  the  writhing 
body  of  the  victim  of  his  shot,  and  he  was  precipi 
tated  headlong  into  a  group  of  armed  men. 

"  Fire  !  Manual,  fire !'  shouted  the  infuriated 
prisoner ;  "  fire,  while  you  have  them  in  a  clus 
ter." 

"Ay,  fire,  Mr.  Manual,"  sail  Borroughcliffe, 
with  great  coolness,  "  and  shoot  jour  own  officer ; 
hold  him  up,  boys !  hold  him  up  *D  front  ;  the  saf 
est  place  is  nighest  to  him." 

"  Fire !"  repeated  Griffith,  making  desperate 
efforts  to  release  himself  from  the  grasp  of  five  or 
six  men ;  "  fire,  and  disregard  me." 

"  If  he  do,  he  deserves  to  be  hung,"  said  Bor 
roughcliffe  ;  "  such  fine  fellows  are  not  sufficiently 
plenty  to  be  shot  at  like  wild  beasts  in  chains. 
Take  him  from  before  the  mouth  of  the  vault, 
boys,  and  spread  yourselves  to  your  duty." 

At  the  time  Griffith  issued  from  the  cover,  Ma 
nual  was  mechanically  employed  in  placing  his 
men  in  order,  and  the  marines,  accustomed  to  do 
every  thing  in  concert  and  array,  lost  the  moment 
to  advance.  The  soldiers  of  Borroughcliffe  re 
loaded  their  muskets,  and  fell  back  behind  differ 
ent  portions  of  the  wall,  where  they  could  com 
mand  the  entrance  to  the  vault  with  their  fire, 
without  much  exposure  to  themselves.  This 
disposition  was  very  coolly  reconnoitred  by  Ma 
nual  in  person,  through  some  of  the  crevices  in 


THE    PILOT.  285 

the  wall,  and  he  hesitated  to  advance  against 
the  force  he  beheld,  while  so  advantageously 
posted.  In  this  situation  several  shot  were  fired 
by  either  party,  without  effect,  until  Borrough- 
cliffe,  perceiving  the  inefficacy  of  that  mode  of 
attack,  summoned  the  garrison  of  the  vault  to  a 
parley. 

"  Surrender  to  the  forces  of  his  Majesty,  King 
George  the  Third,"  he  cried,  "  and  I  promise  you 
quarter." 

"  Will  you  release  your  prisoner,  and  give  us 
free  passage  to  our  vessels  ?"  asked  Manual ;  "  the 
garrison  to  march  out  with  all  the  honours  of  war, 
and  officers  to  retain  tneir  side-arms  ?" 

"  Inadmissible,"  returned  Borroughcliffe,  with 
great  gravity  ;  "  the  honour  of  his  majesty's  arms, 
and  the  welfare  of  the  realm,  forbid  such  a  trea 
ty  ;  but  I  offer  you  safe  quarter,  and  honourable 
treatment." 

"  Officers  to  retain  their  side-arms,  your  pri 
soner  to  be  released,  and  the  whole  party  to  re 
turn  to  America,  on  parole,  not  to  serve  until  ex 
changed  ?" 

"  Not  granted,"  said  Borroughcliffe.  "  The 
most  that  I  can  yield,  is  a  good  potation  of  the 
generous  south-side  ;  and  if  you  are  the  man  I 
take  you  for,  you  will  know  how  to  prize  such  an 
offer." 

"  In  what  capacity  do  you  summon  us  to  yield  ? 
as  men  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the  laws  of  arms, 
or  as  rebels  to  your  king  ?" 

"  Ye  are  rebels  all,  gentlemen,"  returned  the 
deliberate  Borroughcliffe,  "  and  as  such  ye  must 
yield  ;  though  so  far  as  good  treatment  and  good 
fare  goes,  you  are  sure  of  it  while  in  my  power : 
in  all  other  respects  you  lie  at  the  mercy  of  his 
most  gracious  majesty" — 


286  THE    PILOT. 

"  Then  let  his  majesty  show  his  gracious  face, 
and  come  and  take  us,  for  I'll  be " 

The  asseveration  of  the  marine  was  interrupted 
by  Griffith,  whose  blood  had  sensibly  cooled,  and 
whose  generous  feelings  were  awakened  in  behalf 
of  his  comrades,  now  that  his  own  fate  seemed  de 
cided. 

"  Hold,  Manual,"  he  cried,  "  make  no  rash 
oaths  ;  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  I  am  Edward  Grif 
fith,  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy  of  the  United  Ame 
rican  States,  and  I  pledge  you  my  honour,  to  a 
parole — " 

"  Release  him,"  said  Borroughcliffe. 

Griffith  advanced  between  the  two  parties,  and 
spoke  so  as  to  be  heard  by  both — 

"  I  propose  to  descend  to  the  vault  and  ascer 
tain  the  loss  and  present  strength  of  Captain  Ma 
nual's  party  ;  if  the  latter  be  not  greater  than  I 
apprehend,  I  shall  advise  him  to  a  surrender  on 
the  usual  conditions  of  civilized  nations." 

"  Go,"  said  the  soldier ;  "  but  stay  ;  is  he  a 
half-and-half — an  amphibious — pshaw  !  I  mean  a 
marine  ?" 

"  He  is,  sir,  a  captain  in  that  corps — " 

"  The  very  man,"  interrupted  Borroughcliffe ; 
u  I  thought  I  recollected  the  liquid  sounds  of  his 
voice.  It  will  be  well  to  speak  to  him  of  the  good 
fare  of  St.  Ruth ;  and  you  may  add,  that  I  know 
my  man  ;  I  shall  besiege  instead  of  storming  him, 
with  the  certainty  of  a  surrender  when  his  can 
teen  is  empty.  The  vault  he  is  in  holds  no  such 
beverage  as  the  cellars  of  the  abbey." 

Griffith  smiled,  in  spite  of  the  occasion  and  his 
vexation,  and  making  a  slight  inclination  of  his 
head,  he  passed  into  the  vault,  giving  notice  to  his 
friends,  by  his  voice,  in  order  to  apprise  them  who 
approached. 


THE    PILOT.  287 

He  found  six  of  the  marines,  including  the 
sentinel,  lying  dead  on  the  ragged  pavement,  and 
four  others  wounded,  but  stifling  their  groans,  by 
the  order  of  their  commander,  that  they  might  not 
inform  the  enemy  of  his  weakness.  With  the  re 
mainder  of  his  command  Manual  had  intrenched 
himself  behind  the  fragment  of  a  wall  that  inter 
sected  the  vault,  and  regardless  of  the  dismaying 
objects  before  him,  maintained  as  bold  a  front, 
and  as  momentous  an  air,  as  if  the  fate  of  a 
walled  town  depended  on  his  resolution  and  inge 
nuity. 

"  You  see,  Mr.  Griffith,"  he  cried,  when  the 
young  sailor  approached  this  gloomy  but  really 
formidable  arrangement,  "that  nothing  short  of 
artillery  can  dislodge  me  ;  as  for  that  drinking 
Englishman  above,  let  him  send  down  his  men  by 
platoons  of  eight  or  ten,  and  I'll  pile  them  up  on 
(hose  steps,  four  and  five  deep." 

"  But  artillery  can  and  will  be  brought,  if  it 
should  be  necessary,"  said  Griffith,  "  and  there 
is  not  the  least  chance  of  your  eventual  escape : 
it  may  be  possible  for  you  to  destroy  a  few  of  the 
enemy,  but  you  are  too  humane  to  wish  to  do  it 
unnecessarily." 

"  No  doubt,"  returned  Manual  with  a  grim 
smile  ;  "  and  yet  methinks  I  could  find  present 
pleasure  in  shooting  seven  of  them — yes,  just 
seven,  which  is  one  more  than  they  have  struck 
off  my  roster." 

"  Remember  your  own  wounded,"  added  Grif 
fith  ;  "  they  suffer  for  want  of  aid,  while  you  pro 
tract  a  useless  defence." 

A  few  smothered  groans,  from  the  sufferers,  se 
conded  this  appeal,  and  Manual  yielded,  though 
with  a  very  ill  grace,  to  the  necessity  of  the  case 

"  Go,  then,  and  tell  him  that  we  will  surrender 


288  THE    PILOT. 

as  prisoners  of  war,"  he  said,  "  on  the  conditions 
that  he  grants  me  my  side-arms,  and  that  suitable 
care  shall  be  taken  of  the  sick — be  particular  to 
call  them  sick — for  some  lucky  accident  may  yet 
occur  before  the  compact  is  ratified,  and  I  would 
not  have  him  learn  our  loss." 

Griffith,  without  waiting  for  a  second  bidding, 
hastened  to  Borroughcliffe  with  his  intelligence. 

"  His  side-arms !"  repeated  the  soldier,  when 
the  other  had  done ;  "  what  are  they,  I  pray  thee, 
a  marlingspike  !  for  if  his  equipments  be  no  bettei 
than  thine  own,  my  worthy  prisoner,  there  is  little 
need  to  quarrel  about  their  ownership." 

"  Had  I  but  ten  of  my  meanest  men,  armed 
with  such  half-pikes,  and  Captain  Borroughcliffe 
with  his  party  were  put  at  deadly  strife  with  us," 
retorted  Griffith,  "  he  might  find  occasion  to  value 
our  weapons  more  highly." 

"  Four  such  fiery  gentlemen  as  yourself  would 
have  routed  my  command,"  returned  Borrough 
cliffe,  with  undisturbed  composure.  "  I  trembled 
for  my  ranks  when  I  saw  you  coming  out  of  the 
smoke  like  a  blazing  comet  from  behind  a  cloud ! 
and  I  shall  never  think  of  somersets  without  re 
turning  inward  thanks  to  their  inventor.  But  our 
treaty  is  made  ;  let  your  comrades  come  forth  and 
pile  their  arms." 

Griffith  communicated  the  result  to  the  captain 
of  marines,  when  the  latter  led  the  remnant  of  his 
party  out  of  his  sunken  fortress  into  the  open  air. 

The  men,  who  had  manifested  throughout  the 
whole  business  that  cool  subordination  and  un 
yielding  front,  mixed  with  the  dauntless  spirit  that 
to  this  day  distinguishes  the  corps  of  which  they 
were  members,  followed  their  commander  in  sullen 
silence,  and  stacked  their  arms,  with  as  much  re 
gularity  and  precision  as  if  they  had  been  ordered 


THE    PILOT.  289 

to  relieve  themselves  after  a  march.  When  this 
necessary  preliminary  had  been  observed,  Bor- 
roughcliffe  unmasked  his  forces,  and  our  adventu 
rers  found  themselves  once  more  in  the  power  of 
the  enemy,  and  under  circumstances  which  ren 
dered  the  prospects  of  a  speedy  release  from  their 
captivity  nearly  hopeless." 
25 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


*  If  your  Father  will  do  me  any  honour,  so  ; 
If  not,  let  him  kill  the  next  Percy  himself  j 
I  look  to  be  either  Earl  or  Duke,  1  can  assure  you. 


MANUAL  cast  sundry  discontented  and  sullen 
Aooks  from  his  captors  to  the  remnant  of  his  own 
command,  while  the  process  of  pinioning  the  lat 
ter  was  conducted,  with  much  discretion,  under 
the  directions  of  Sergeant  Drill,  when  meeting,  in 
one  of  his  dissatisfied  glances,  with  the  pale  and 
disturbed  features  of  Griffith,  he  gave  vent  to  his 
ill-humour,  by  saying — 

"  This  results  from  neglecting  the  precautions 
of  military  discipline.  Had  the  command  been 
with  me,  who,  I  may  say,  without  boasting,  have 
been  accustomed  to  the  duties  of  the  field,  proper 
pickets  would  have  been  posted,  and  instead  of 
being  caught  like  so  many  rabbits  in  a  burrow,  to 
be  smoked  out  with  brimstone,  we  should  have  had 
an  open  field  for  the  struggle,  or  we  might  have 
possessed  ourselves  of  these  walls,  which  I  could 
have  made  good  for  two  hours  at  least,  against 
the  best  regiment  that  ever  wore  King  George's 
facings." 

"  Defend  the  outworks  before  retreating  to  the 
citadel!"  cried  Borroughcliffe ;  "'tis  the  game  of 
war,  and  shows  science  ;  but  had  you  kept  closer 
to  your  burrow,  the  rabbits  might  now  have  fill 


THE    PILOT.  291 

been  frisking  about  in  that  pleasant  abode.  The 
eyes  of  a  timid  hind  were  greeted  this  morning, 
while  journeying  near  this  wood,  with  a  passing 
sight  of  armed  men,  in  strange  attire ;  and  as  he 
fled,  with  an  intent  of  casting  himself  into  the  sea, 
as  fear  will  sometimes  urge  one  of  his  kind  to  do, 
he  luckily  encountered  me  on  the  cliffs,  who  hu 
manely  saved  his  life,  by  compelling  him  to  con 
duct  us  hither.  There  is  often  wisdom  in  science, 
my  worthy  contemporary  in  arms,  but  there  is 
sometimes  safety  in  ignorance." 

"  You  have  succeeded,  —i*,  and  have  a  right 
to  be  pleasant,"  said  Manual,  seating  himself 
gloomily  on  a  fragment  of  the  ruin,  and  fastening 
his  looks  on  the  melancholy  spectacle  of  the  life 
less  bodies,  as  they  were  successively  brought 
from  the  vault  and  placed  at  his  feet ;  "  but  these 
men  have  been  my  own  children,  and  you  will 
excuse  me  if  I  cannot  retort  your  pleasantries 
Ah  !  Captain  Borroughclrffe,  you  are  a  soldier, 
and  know  how  to  value  merit.  I  took  those  very 
fellows,  who  sleep  on  these  stones  so  quietly,  from 
the  hands  of  nature,  and  made  them  the  pride  of 
our  art.  They  were  no  longer  men,  but  brave 
lads,  who  ate  and  drank,  wheeled  and  marched, 
loaded  and  fired,  laughed  or  were  sorrowful, 
spoke  or  were  silent,  only  at  my  will.  As  for 
soul,  there  was  but  one  among  them  all,  and  that 
was  in  my  keeping !  Groan,  my  children,  groan 
freely  now ;  there  is  no  longer  a  reason  to  be  si 
lent.  I  have  known  a  single  musket-bullet  cut 
the  buttons  from  the  coats  of  five  of  them  in  a 
row,  without  raising  the  skin  of  a  man  !  I  could 
ever  calculate,  with  certainty,  how  many  it  would 
be  necessary  to  expend  in  all  regular  service,  but 
this  accursed  banditti  business  has  robbed  me  of 
the  choicest  of  my  treasures.  You  ( stand  at  ease1 


292  THE     PILOT. 

now,  my  children ;  groan,  it  will  soften  your  an 
guish." 

Borroughcliffe  appeared  to  participate,  in  some 
degree,  in  the  feelings  of  his  captive,  and  he 
made  a  few  appropriate  remarks  in  the  way  of 
condolence,  while  he  watched  the  preparations 
that  were  making  by  his  own  men  to  move.  At 
length  his  orderly  announced  that  substitutes  for 
barrows  were  provided  to  sustain  the  wounded, 
and  inquired  if  it  were  his  pleasure  to  return  to 
their  quarters. 

"  Who  has  seen  the  horse  ?"  demanded  the  cap 
tain  ;  "  which  way  did  they  march  7  Have  they 
gained  any  tidings  of  the  discovery  of  this  party  of 
the  enemy  1" 

"  Not  from  us,  your  honour,"  returned  the  ser 
geant  ;  "  they  had  ridden  along  the  coast  before 
we  left  the  cliffs,  and  it  was  said  their  officer  in 
tended  to  scour  the  shore  for  several  miles,  and 
spread  the  alarm." 

"  Let  him  ,  it  is  all  such  gay  gallants  are  good 
for.  Drill,  honour  is  almost  as  scarce  an  article 
with  our  arms  just  now  as  promotion.  We  seem 
but  the  degenerate  children  of  the  heroes  of  Poic- 
tiers  ; — you  understand  me,  sergeant  ?" 

"  Some  battle  fou't  by  his  majesty's  troops 
against  the  French,  your  honour,"  returned  the 
orderly,  a  little  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the  ex 
pression  of  his  officer's  eye. 

"  Fellow,  you  grow  dull  on  victory,"  exclaimed 
Borroughcliffe :  "  come  hither,  I  would  give  you 
orders.  Do  you  think,  Mister  Drill,  there  is  more 
honour,  or  likely  to  be  more  profit,  in  this  little 
morning's  amusement  than  you  and  I  can  stand  un 
der  1" 

"  I  should  not,  your  honour ;  we  have  both 
pretty  broad  shoulders — " 


THE      PILOT.  293 

u  That  are  not  weakened  by  undue  burthens 
of  this  nature;"  interrupted  his  captain,  signifi 
cantly  ;  u  if  we  let  thel  news  of  this  affair  reach 
the  ears  of  those  hungry  dragoons,  they  would 
charge  upon  us  open  mouthed,  like  a  pack  of 
famished  beagles,  and  claim  at  least  half  the  credit, 
and  certainly  all  the  profit." 

"  But,  your  honour,  there  was  not  a  man  of 
them  even — " 

"  No  matter,  Drill ;  I've  known  troops  that 
have  been  engaged,  and  have  Buffered,  cheated 
out  of  their  share  of  victory,  by  a  well-worded 
despatch.  You  know,  fellow,  that  in  the  smoke 
and  confusion  of  a  battle,  a  man  can  only  see 
what  passes  near  him,  and  common  prudence  re 
quires  that  he  only  mention  in  his  official  letters 
what  he  knows  can't  be  easily  contradicted.  Thus 
your  Indians,  and  indeed,  all  allies,  are  not  enti 
tled  to  the  right  of  a  general  order,  any  more  than 
to  the  right  of  a  parade.  Now,  I  dare  say,  you 
have  heard  of  a  certain  battle  of  Blenheim  T' 

"  Lord !  your  honour,  'tis  the  pride  of  the 
British  army,  that  and  the  Culloden !  'Twas  when 
the  great  Corporal  John  beat  the  French  king, 
and  all  his  lords  and  nobility,  with  half  his  nation 
in  arms  to  back  him." 

"  Ay !  there  is  a  -little  of  the  barrack  readings 
in  the  account,  but  it  is  substantially  true ;  know 
you  how  many  French  were  in  the  field,  that  day, 
Mister  Drill?'" 

"  I  [have  never  seen  the  totals  of  their  muster, 
sir,  in  print,  but  judging  by  the  difference  betwixt 
the  nations,  I  should  suppose  some  hundreds  of 
thousands." 

"  And  yet,  to  oppose  this  vast  army,  the  duke 
had  only  some  ten  or  twelve  thousand  well-fed 
Englishmen  !  You  look  astounded,  sergeant !" 


294  THE    PILOT. 

"  Why,  your  honour,  that  does  seem  rather  an 
over-match  for  an  old  soldier  to  swallow  ;  the  ran 
dom  shot  would  sweep  away  so  small  a  force. J* 

"  And  yet  the  battle  was  fought,  and  the  victory 
won !  but  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  had  a  certain 
Mr.  Eugene,  with  some  fifty  or  sixty  thousand 
High-Dutchers,  to  back  him.  You  never  heard 
of  Mr.  Eugene  ?" 

"  Not  a  syllable,  your  honour ;  I  always  thought 
that  Corporal  John — " 

u  Was  a  gallant  and  great  general ;  you  thought 
right,  Mister  Drill.  So  would  a  certain  nameless 
gentleman  be  also,  if  his  majesty  would  sign  a 
commission  to  that  effect.  However,  a  majority 
is  on  the  high  road  to  a  regiment,  and  with  even 
a  regiment  a  man  is  comfortable  !  In  plain  Eng 
lish,  Mister  Drill,  we  must  get  our  prisoners 
into  the  abbey  with  as  little  noise  as  possible, 
in  order  that  the  horse  may  continue  their  gam 
bols  along  the  coast,  without  coming  to  devour  our 
meal.  All  the  fuss  must  be  made  at  the  war- 
office.  For  that  trifle  you  may  trust  me ;  T  think 
I  know  who  holds  a  quill  that  is  as  good  in  its 
way  as  the  sword  he  wears.  Drill  is  a  short 
name,  and  can  easily  be  written  within  the  folds  of 
a  letter." 

"  Lord,  your  honour  !"  said  the  gratified  halber 
dier,  "  I'm  sure  such  an  honour  is  more — but  your 
honour  can  ever  command  me  !" 

"  I  do  ;  and  it  is  to  be  close,  and  to  make  your 
men  keep  close,  until  it  shall  be  time  to  speak, 
when  I  pledge  myself  there  shall  be  noise 
enough."  Borroughcliffe  shook  his  head,  with  a 
grave  air,  as  he  continued — "  It  has  been  a  devil 
of  a  bloody  fight,  sergeant !  look  at  the  dead  and 
wounded  ;  a  wood  on  each  flank — supported  by  a 


THE    PILOT.  295 

ruin  in  the  centre.  Oh !  ink  !  ink !  can  be  spilt 
on  the  details  with  great  effect.  Go,  fellow,  and 
prepare  to  march." 

Thus  enlightened  on  the  subject  of  his  com 
mander's  ulterior  views,  the  non-commissioned 
agent  of  the  captain's  wishes  proceeded  to  give 
suitable  instructions  to  the  rest  of  the  party,  and 
to  make  the  more  immediate  preparations  for  a 
march.  The  arrangements  were  soon  completed. 
The  bodies  of  the  slain  were  left  unsheltered,  the 
seclusion  of  the  ruin  being  deemed  a  sufficient 
security  against  the  danger  of  any  discovery, 
until  darkness  should  favour  their  removal,  in 
conformity  writh  Borroughcliffe's  plan  to  monopo 
lize  the  glory.  The  wounded  were  placed  on 
rude  litters,  composed  of  the  muskets  and  blankets 
of  the  prisoners,  when  the  conquerors  and  van 
quished  moved  together  in  a  compact  body  from 
the  ruin,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  the  former 
serve  as  a  mask  to  conceal  the  latter  from  the 
curious  gaze  of  any  casual  passenger.  There  was 
but  little,  indeed,  to  apprehend  on  this  head,  for 
the  alarm  and  the  terror,  consequent  on  the  exag 
gerated  reports  that  flew  through  the  country,  ef 
fectually  prevented  any  intruders  on  the  usually 
quiet  and  retired  domains  of  St.  Ruth. 

The  party  was  emerging  from  the  wood,  when 
the  cracking  of  branches,  and  rustling  of  dried 
leaves,  announced,  however,  that  an  interruption 
of  some  sort  was  about  to  occur. 

"  If  it  should  be  one  of  their  rascally  patroles  !" 
exclaimed  Borroughcliffe,  with  very  obvious  dis 
pleasure  ;  "  they  trample  like  a  regiment  of  ca 
valry  !  but,  gentlemen,  you  will  acknowledge 
yourselves,  that  we  were  retiring  from  the  field  of 
battle  when  we  met  the  reinforcement,  if  it  should 
prove  to  be  such." 


296  THE    PILOT. 

*c  We  are  not  disposed,  sir,  to  deny  you  the  glory 
of  having  achieved  your  victory  single  handed," 
said  Griffith,  glancing  his  eyes  uneasily  in  the 
direction  of  the  approaching  sounds,  expecting 
to  see  the  pilot  issue  from  the  thicket  in  which  he 
seemed  to  be  entangled,  instead  of  any  detachment 
of  his  enemies. 

"  Clear  the  way,  Caesar !"  cried  a  voice  at  no 
great  distance  from  them  ;  u  break  through  the 
accursed  vines,  on  my  right,  Pompey  ! — press  for 
ward,  my  fine  fellows,  or  we  may  be  too  late  to 
smell  even  the  smoke  of  the  fight." 

"  Hum !"  ejaculated  the  captain  with  his  phi 
losophic  indiiference  of  manner  entirely  re-esta 
blished,  "  this  must  be  a  Roman  legion  just 
awoke  from  a  trance  of  some  seventeen  centuries, 
and  that  the  voice  of  a  Centurion.  We  will  halt, 
Mister  Drill,  and  view  the  manner  of  an  ancient 
march !" 

While  the  captain  was  yet  speaking,  a  violent 
effort  disengaged  the  advancing  party  from  the 
thicket  of  brambles  in  which  they  had  been  en 
tangled,  when  two  blacks,  each  bending  under  a 
load  of  fire-arms,  preceded  Colonel  Howard 
into  the  clear  space  where  Borroughcliffe  had 
halted  his  detachment.  Some  little  time  was  ne 
cessary  to  enable  the  veteran  to  arrange  his  dis 
ordered  dress,  and  to  remove  the  perspiring  effects 
of  the  unusual  toil  from  his  features,  before  he 
could  observe  the  addition  to  the  captain's  num 
bers. 

"We  heard  you  fire,"  cried  the  old  soldiei 
making,  at  the  same  time,  the  most  diligent  appli 
cation  of  his  bandanna,  "  and  I  determined  to  aid 
you  with  a  sortie,  which,  when  judiciously  timed, 
has  been  the  means  of  raising  many  a  siege  ; 
though,  had  Montcalm  rested  quietly  within  his 


THE    PILOT.  297 

walls,  the  plains  of  Abr'am  might  never  have  drunk 
his  blood." 

"  Oh  !  his  decision  was  soldierly,  and  according 
to  all  rules  of  war,"  exclaimed  Manual ;  "  and  had  I 
followed  his  example,  this  day  might  have  pro 
duced  a  different  tale !" 

"  Why.  who  have  we  here  !"  cried  the  colonel 
in  astonishment ;  "  who  is  it  that  pretends  to  criti 
else  battles  and  sieges,  dressed  in  such  a  garb  ?" 

"  'Tis  a  dux  incognitorum,  my  worthy  host," 
said  Borroughcliffe,  "  which  means,  in  our  English 
language,  a  captain  of  marines  in  the  service  of  th^ 
American  Congress." 

"  What !  have  you  then  met  the  enemy  !  ay ! 
and  by  the  fame  of  the  immortal  Wolfe  you  have 
captured  them  !"  cried  the  delighted  veteran.  "  I 
was  pressing  on  with  a  part  of  my  garrison  to  your 
assistance,  for  I  had  seen  that  you  were  marching 
in  this  direction^  and  even  the  report  of  a  few  mus 
kets  were  heard." 

"  A  few  !"  interrupted  the  conqueror ;  "  I  know 
not  what  you  call  a  few,  my  gallant  and  ancient 
friend ;  you  may  possibly  have  shot  at  each  other 
by  the  week  in  the  days  of  Wolfe,  and  Abercrom- 
bie,  and  Braddock,  but  I  too  have  seen  smart 
firing,  and  can  hazard  an  opinion  in  such  mat 
ters.  There  was  as  pretty  a  roll  made  by  fire 
arms  at  the  battles  on  the  Hudson,  as  ever  rattled 
from  a  drum ;  it  is  all  over,  and  many  live  to 
talk  of  it ;  but  this  has  been  the  most  desperate 
affair,  for  the  numbers,  I  ever  was  engaged  in  ! 
I  speak  always  with  a  reference  to  the  numbers. 
The  wood  is  pretty  well  sprinkled  with  dead,  and 
we  have  contrived  to  bring  off  a  few  of  the  despe 
rately  wounded  with  us,  as  you  may  perceive." 

"  Bless  me  !"  exclaimed  the  surprised  veteran, 
"  that  such  an  engagement  should  happen  within 


298  THE    PILOT. 

musket  shot  of  the  Abbey,  and  I  know  so  little  of 
it !  My  faculties  are  on  the  wane,  I  fear,  for  the 
time  has  been  when  a  single  discharge  would 
rouse  me  from  the  deepest  sleep." 

"The  bayonet  is  a  silent  weapon,"  returned 
the  composed  captain,  with  a  significant  wave  of 
his  hand  ;  "  'tis  the  Englishman's  pride,  and  every 
experienced  officer  knows,  that  one  thrust  from  it 
is  worth  the  fire  of  a  whole  platoon." 

"  What,  did  you  come  to  the  charge  !"  cried  the 
Colonel;  "  by  the  Lord,  Bonoughcliffe,  my  gal 
lant  young  friend,  I  would  have  given  twenty 
tierces  of  rice,  and  two  able-bodied  negroes,  to 
have  seen  the  fray  !" 

"  It  would  have  been  a  pleasant  spectacle  to 
witness,  sans  disputation,"  returned  the  captain ; 
"  but  victory  is  ours  without  the  presence  of 
Achilles,  this  time.  I  have  them,  all  that  survive 
the  affair ;  at  least,  all  that  have  put  foot  on  Eng 
lish  soil." 

"  Ay  !  and  the  king's  cutter  has  brought  in  the 
schooner !"  added  Colonel  Howard.  "  Thus  pe 
rish  all  rebellion  for  evermore  !  Where's  Kit  f  my 
kinsman  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon  ?  I  would  ask 
him  what  the  laws  of  the  realm  next  prescribe  to 
loyal  subjects.  Here  will  be  work  for  the  jurors 
of  Middlesex,  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  if  not  for 
a  secretary  of  state's  warrant.  Where  is  Kit, 
my  kinsman ;  the  ductile,  the  sagacious,  the  loyal 
Christopher  ?" 

"  The  Cacique  '  non  est,'  as  more  than  one 
bailiff  has  said  of  sundry  clever  fellows  in  our  re 
giment,  when  there  has  been  a  pressing  occasion 
for  their  appearance,"  said  the  soldier ;  "  but  the 
cornet  of  horse  has  given  me  reason  to  believe  that 
his  provincial  lordship,  who  repaired  on  board  the 
cutter  to  £ive  intelligence  of  the  position  of  the 


THE    PILOT.  299 

enemy,  continued  there  to  share  the  dangers  and 
honours  of  the  naval  combat." 

"  Ay,  'tis  like  him  !"  cried  the  colonel,  rubbing 
his  hands  with  glee ;  "  'tis  like  him !  he  has  for 
gotten  the  law  and  his  peaceful  occupations,  at 
the  sounds  of  military  preparation,  and  has  carried 
the  head  of  a  statesman  into  the  fight,  with  the  ar 
dour  and  thoughtlessness  of  a  boy." 

"The  Cacique  is  a  man  of  discretion,"  ob 
served  the  captain,  with  all  his  usual  dryness  of 
manner,  "  and  will  doubtless  recollect  his  obliga 
tions  to  posterity  and  himself,  though  he  be  found 
entangled  in  the  mazes  of  a  combat.  But  I  mar 
vel  that  he  does  not  return,  for  some  time  has  now 
elapsed  since  the  schooner  struck  her  flag,  as  my 
own  eyes  have  witnessed." 

"  You  will  pardon  me,  gentlemen,"  said  Grif 
fith,  advancing  towards  them  with  uncontrollable 
interest ;  "  but  I  have  unavoidably  heard  part  of 
your  discourse,  and  cannot  think  you  will  find  it 
necessary  to  withhold  the  whole  truth  from  a  dis 
armed  captive ;  say  you  that  a  schooner  has  been 
captured  this  morning  ?" 

"It  is  assuredly  true,"  said  Borrcughclifle, 
with  a  display  of  nature  and  delicacy  in  his  man 
ner  that  did  his  heart  infinite  credit ;  "  but  I  for 
bore  to  tell  you,  because  I  thought  your  own 
misfortunes  would  be  enough  for  one  time.  Mr. 
Griffith,  this  gentleman  is  Colonel  Howard,  to 
whose  hospitality  you  will  be  indebted  for  some 
favours  before  we  separate." 

"  Griffith  !"  echoed  the  colonel,  in  quick  reply, 
"  Griffith !  what  a  sight  for  my  old  eyes  to  wit 
ness  ! — the  child  of  worthy,  gallant,  loyal  Hugh 
Griffith  a  captive,  and  taken  in  arms  against  his 
prince  !  Young  man,  young  man,  what  would 
thy  honest  father,  what  would  his  bosom  friend, 


300  THE    PILOT. 

my  own  poor  brother  Harry,  have  said,  had  it 
pleased  God  that  they  had  survived  to  witness 
this  burning  shame  and  lasting  stigma  on  thy  re 
spectable  name .?" 

tc  Had  my  father  lived,  he  would  now  have  been 
upholding  the  independence  of  his  native  land," 
said  the  young  man,  proudly.  "  I  wish  to  respect 
even  the  prejudices  of  Colonel  Howard,  and  beg 
he  will  forbear  urging  a  subject  on  which  I  fear 
we  never  shall  agree." 

"Never,  while  thou  art  to  be  found  in  the 
ranks  of  rebellion  !"  cried  the  colonel.  "  Oh  ! 
boy,  boy !  how  I  could  have  loved  and  cherished 
thee,  if  the  skill  and  knowledge  obtained  in  the 
service  of  thy  prince,  were  now  devoted  to  the 
maintenance  of  his  unalienable  rights !  I  loved 
thy  father,  worthy  Hugh,  even  as  I  loved  my  own 
brother  Harry." 

"And  his  son  should  still  be  dear  to  you,"  in 
terrupted  Griffith,  taking  the  reluctant  hand  of  the 
Colonel  into  both  his  own. 

"  Ah,  Eaward,  Edward  !"  continued  the  soften 
ed  veteran,  "  how  many  of  my  day-dreams  have 
been  destroyed  by  thy  perversity  !  nay,  I  know 
not  that  Kit,  discreet  and  loyal  as  he  is,  could 
have  found  such  favour  in  my  eyes  as  thyself; 
there  is  a  cast  of  thy  father  in  that  face  and  smile, 
Ned,  that  might  have  won  me  to  any  thing  short 
of  treason — and  then  Cicily,  provoking,  tender, 
mutinous,  kind,  affectionate,  good  Cicily,  would 
have  been  a  link  to  unite  us  for  ever." 

The  youth  cast  a  hasty  glance  at  the  deliberate 
Borroughcliffe,  who,  if  he  had  obeyed  the  impa 
tient  expression  of  his  eye,  would  have  followed 
the  party  that  was  slowly  bearing  the  wounded 
towards  the  Abbey,  before  he  yielded  to  his  feel 
ings,  and  answered — 


THE    PILOT.  301 

"  Nay,  sir ;  let  this  then  be  the  termination  of 
our  misunderstanding — your  lovely  niece  shall  be 
that  link,  and  you  shall  be  to  me  as  your  friend 
Hugh  would  have  been  had  he  lived,  and  to  Ce 
cilia  twice  a  parent." 

"  Boy,  boy,"  said  the  veteran,  averting  his  face 
to  conceal  the  working  of  his  muscles,  "  you  talk 
idly;  my  word  is  now  plighted  to  my  kinsman, 
Kit,  and  thy  scheme  is  impracticable." 

"  Nothing  is  impracticable,  sir,  to  youth  and 
enterprise,  when  aided  by  age  and  experience 
like  yours,"  returned  Griffith;  "this  war  must 
soon  terminate." 

"  This  war  !"  echoed  the  Colonel,  shaking 
loose  the  grasp  which  Griffith  held  on  his  arm  ; 
"  ay  !  what  of  this  war,  young  man  ?  Is  it  not 
an  accursed  attempt  to  deny  the  rights  of  our 
gracious  sovereign,  and  to  place  tyrants,  reared 
in  kennels,  on  the  throne  of  princes !  a  scheme 
to  elevate  the  wicked  at  the  expense  of  the  good ! 
a  project  to  aid  unrighteous  ambition,  under  the 
mask  of  sacred  liberty  and  the  popular  cry  of 
3quality !  as  if  there  could  be  liberty  without  or 
der  !  or  equality  of  rights,  where  the  privileges  of 
the  sovereign  are  not  as  sacred  as  those  of  the 
people !" 

"  You  judge  us  harshly,  Colonel  Howard,'' 
said  Griffith— 

"  I  judge   you !"   interrupted  the   old  soldier, 

who,  by  this  time,  thought  .the  youth  resembled 

any  one  rather  than  his  friend  Hugh  ;  "  it  is  not 

my  province  to  judge  you  at  all ;  if  it  were  ! — but 

the  time  will  come,  the  time  will  come.     I  am  a 

patient  man,  and  can  wait  the  course  of  things ; 

yes,  yes,  age   cooLs  the  blood,  and  we  learn  to 

suppress  the  passions  and  impatience  of  youth; 

ut  if  the  ministry  would  issue  a  commission  of 

26 


302  THE    PILOT. 

justice  for  the  colonies,  and  put  the  name  of  old 
George  Howard  in  it,  I  am  a  dog,  if  there  should 
be  a  rebel  alive  in  twelve  months.  Sir,"  turning 
sternly  to  Borroughcliffe,  "  in  such  a  cause,  I 
could  prove  a  Roman,  and  hang — hang — yes,  1 
do  think,  sir,  I  could  hang  my  kinsman,  Mr.  Chris 
topher  Dillon !" 

"  Spare  the  Cacique  such  an  unnatural  eleva 
tion,  before  his  time,"  returned  the  captain,  with 
a  grave  wave  of  the  hand :  "  behold,"  pointing 
towards  the  wood,  "  there  is  a  more  befitting  sub 
ject  for  the  gallows !  Mr.  Griffith,  yonder  man 
calls  himself  your  comrade  ?" 

The  eyes  of  Colonel  Howard  and  Griffith  fol 
lowed  the  direction  of  his  finger,  and  the  latter  in 
stantly  recognised  the  Pilot,  standing  in  the  skirts 
of  the  wood,  with  his  arms  folded,  apparently  sur 
veying  the  condition  of  his  friends. 

"  That  man,"  said  Griffith,  in  confusion,  and 
hesitating  to  utter  even  the  equivocal  truth  that 
suggested  itself,  "  that  man  does  not  belong  to  our 
ship's  company." 

"  And  yet  he  has  been  seen  in  your  company," 
returned  the  incredulous  Borroughcliffe  ;  "  he  was 
the  spokesman  in  last  night's  examination,  Colonel 
Howard,  and,  doubtless,  commands  the  rear  guard 
of  the  rebels." 

"  You  say  true,"  cried  the  veteran  ;  "  Pompey  ' 
Caesar  !  present !  fire  !" 

The  blacks  started  at  the  sudden  orders  of  theii 
master,  of  whom  they  stood  in  the  deepest  awe, 
and,  presenting  their  muskets,  they  averted  theii 
faces,  and  shutting  their  eyes,  obeyed  the  bloody 
mandate. 

"  Charge  !"  shouted  the  Colonel,  flourishing  the 
ancient  sword  with  which  he  had  armed  himself, 
arid  pressing  forward  with  all  the  activity  that  a 


THE    PILOT.  303 

recent  fit  of  the  gout  would  allow ;  "  charge,  and 
exterminate  the  dogs  with  the  bayonet !  push  on, 
Pompey — dress,  boys,  dress." 

"  If  your  friend  stand  this  charge,"  said  Bor- 
roughcliffe  to  Griffith,  with  unmoved  composure, 
"his  nerves  are  made  of  iron;  such  a  charge 
would  break  the  Coldstreams;  with  Pompey  in 
the  ranks !" 

"  I  trust  in  God,"  cried  Griffith,  "  he  will  have 
forbearance  enough  to  respect  the  weakness  of 
Colonel  Howard ! — he  presents  a  pistol !" 

"  But  he  will  not  fire ;  the  Romans  deem  it 
prudent  to  halt ;  nay,  by  heaven,  they  counter 
march  to  the  rear.  Holla !  Colonel  Howard,  my 
worthy  host,  fall  back  on  your  reinforcements; 
the  wood  is  full  of  armed  men;  they  cannot 
escape  us ;  I  only  wait  for  the  horse  to  cut  off  the 
retreat." 

The  veteran,  who  had  advanced  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  single  man,  who  thus  deliberately 
awaited  the  attack,  halted  at  this  summons,  and, 
by  a  glance  of  his  eye,  ascertained  that  he  stood 
alone.  Believing  the  words  of  Borroughcliffe  to 
be  true,  he  slowly  retired,  keeping  his  face  man 
fully  towards  his  enemy,  until  he  gained  the  sup 
port  of  the  captain. 

"  Recall  the  troops,  Borroughcliffe !"  he  cried, 
:c  and  let  us  charge  into  the  wood ;  they  will  fly 
before  his  majesty's  arms  like  guilty  scoundrels, 
as  they  are.  As  for  the  negroes,  I'll  teach  the 
black  rascals  to  desert  their  master  at  such  a  mo 
ment.  They  say  Fear  is  pale,  but,  d e,  Bor 
roughcliffe,  if  I  do  not  believe  his  skin  is  black." 

"  I  have  seen  him  of  all  colours ;  blue,  white, 
black,  and  party-coloured,"  said  the  captain.  "  I 
must  take  the  command  of  matters  on  myself, 
however,  my  excellent  host ;  let  us  retire  into  the 


304  THE    PILOT. 

Abbey,  and  trust  me  to  cut  off  the  remainder  of 
the  rebels." 

In  this  arrangement,  the  colonel  reluctantly 
acquiesced,  and  the  three  followed  the  soldier  to 
the  dwelling,  at  a  pace  that  was  adapted  to  the 
infirmities  of  its  master.  The  excitement  of  the 
onset,  and  the  current  of  his  ideas,  had  uni 
ted,  however,  to  banish  every  amicable  thought 
from  the  breast  of  the  colonel,  and  he  entered 
the  Abbey  with  a  resolute  determination  of  seeing 
justice  dealt  to  Griffith  and  his  companions,  even 
though  it  should  push  them  to  the  foot  of  the 
gallows. 

As  the  gentlemen  disappeared  from  his  view, 
among  the  shrubbery  of  the  grounds,  the  Pilot 
replaced  the  weapon  that  was  hanging  from  his 
hand,  in  his  bosom,  and,  turning  with  a  snddened 
and  thoughtful  brow,  he  slowly  r^-entered  the 
wood. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


"  When  these  prodigies 

Do  BO  conjointly  meet,  let  not  men  say, 
These  are  their  reasons,— They  are  natural : 
For,  I  believe  they  are  portentous  things 
Unto  the  climate  that  they  point  upon.' 

CMM 


THE  reader  will  discover,  by  referring  to  the 
time  consumed  in  the  foregoing  events,  that  the 
Ariel,  with  her  prize,  did  not  anchor  in  the  bay, 
already  mentioned,  until  Griffith  and  his  party 
had  been  for  several  hours  in  the  custody  of  their 
enemies.  The  supposed  capture  of  the  rebel 
schooner  was  an  incident  that  excited  but  little 
interest,  and  no  surprise,  among  a  people  who 
were  accustomed  to  consider  their  seamen  as  in 
vincible  ;  and  Barnstable  had  not  found  it  a  diffi 
cult  task  to  practise  his  deception  on  the  few 
rustics  whom  curiosity  induced  to  venture  along 
side  the  vessels  during  the  short  continuance  of 
daylight.  When,  however,  the  fogs  of  evening 
began  to  rise  along  the  narrow  basin,  and  the 
curvatures  of  its  margin  were  lost  in  the  single 
outline  of  its  dark  and  gloomy  border,  the  young 
seaman  thought  it  time  to  apply  himself  in  earnest 
to  his  duty.  The  Alacrity,  containing  all  his 
own  crew,  together  with  the  Ariel's  wounded, 
was  gotten  silently  under  way,  and  driving  easily 
before  the  heavy  air  that  swept  from  the  land,  she 
drifted  from  the  harbour,  until  the  open  sea  lay 
before  her,  when  her  sails  were  spread,  and  she 
continued  to  make  the  best  of  her  way  in  quest 
26*  J 


306  THE    PILOT. 

of  the  frigate.  Barnstable  had  watched  this  move 
ment  with  breathless  anxiety  ;  for  on  an  eminuice 
that  completely  commanded  the  waters  to  some 
distance,  a  small  but  rude  battery  had  been  erected 
for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  harbour  against 
the  depredations  and  insults  of  the  smaller  ves 
sels  of  the  enemy ;  and  a  guard  of  sufficient  force 
to  manage  the  two  heavy  guns  it  contained,  was 
maintained  in  the  work  at  all  times.  He  was  ig 
norant  how  far  his  stratagem  had  been  successful, 
and  it  was  only  when  he  heard  the  fluttering  of  the 
Alacrity's  canvass,  as  she  opened  it  to  the  breeze, 
he  felt  that  he  was  yet  secure. 

"  'Twill  reach  the  Englishmen's  ears,"  said 
the  boy  Merry,  who  stood  on  the  forecastle  of 
the  schooner,  by  the  side  of  his  commander, 
listening  with  breathless  interest  to  the  sounds ; 
"  they  set  a  sentinel  on  the  point,  as  the  sun  went 
down,  and  if  he  is  a  trifle  better  than  a  dead  man, 
or  a  marine  asleep,  he  will  suspect  something  is 
wrong." 

"  Never!"  returned  Barnstable,  with  a  long 
breath,  that  announced  all  his  apprehensions  were 
removed ;  "  he  will  be  more  likely  to  believe  it  a 
mermaid  fanning  herself  this  cool  evening,  than 
to  suspect  the  real  fact.  What  say  you,  Master 
Coffin  ?  will  the  soldier  smell  the  truth  ?" 

"  They're  a  dumb  race,'"  said  the  cockswain, 
casting  his  eyes  over  his  shoulders,  to  ascertain 
that  none  of  their  own  marine  guard  was  near 
him ;  "  now,  there  was  our  sargeant,  who  ought  to 
know  something,  seeing  that  he  has  been  afloat 
these  four  years,  maintained,  dead  in  the  face  and 
eyes  of  what  every  man,  who  has  ever  doubled 
Good  Hope,  knows  to  be  true,  that  there  was  no 
such  vessel  to  be  fallen  in  with  in  them  seas,  as 
the  Flying  Dutchman  !  and  then,  again,  when  1 


THE    PILOT.  307 

told  him  that  he  was  a  4  know-nothing,'  and  asked 
him  if  the  Dutchman  was  a  more  unlikely  thing 
than  that  there  should  be  places  where  the  inhabi 
tants  split  the  year  into  two  watches,  and  had  day 
for  six  months,  and  night  the  rest  of  the  time,  the 
green-horn  laughed  in  my  face,  and  I  do  believe 
he  would  have  told  me  I  lied,  but  for  one  thing." 

"  And  what  might  that  be  ?"  asked  Barnstable, 
gravely. 

u  Why,  sir,"  returned  Tom,  stretching  his  bony 
fingers,  as  he  surveyed  his  broad  palm,  by  the  little 
light  that  remained,  u  though  I  am  a  peaceable 
man,  I  can  be  roused." 

"  And  you  have  seen  the  Flying  Dutchman  ?" 

"  I  never  doubled  the  east  cape ;  though  I  can 
find  my  way  through  Le  Maire  in  the  darkest 
night  that  ever  fell  from  the  heavens ;  but  I  have 
seen  them  that  have  seen  her,  and  spoken  her 
too." 

"  Well,  be  it  so  ;  you  must  turn  flying  Yankee, 
yourself,  to-night,  Master  Coffin.  Man  your  boat 
at  once,  sir,  and  arm  your  crew." 

The   cockswain  paused   a  moment,   before  he 
proceeded   to  obey   this  unexpected   order,  and, 
pointing  towards  the  battery,  he  inquired  with  in 
finite  phlegm — 

"  For  shore- work,  sir  ?  Shall  we  take  the  cut- 
lashes  and  pistols  ?  or  shall  we  want  the  pikes  .?" 

"  There  may  be  soldiers  in  our  way,  with  their 
bayonets,"  said  Barnstable  musing  ;  "  arm  as 
usual,  but  throw  a  few  long  pikes  into  the  boat ; 
and  harkye,  Master  Coffin,  out  with  your  tub  and 
whale-line :  for  I  see  you  have  rigged  yourself  anew 
in  that  way." 

The  cockswain,  who  was  moving  from  the 
forecastle,  turned  short  at  this  new  mandate,  and 
with  an  air  of  remonstrance,  ventured  to  say — 


308  THE    PILOT. 

"  Trust  an  old  whaler,  Captain  Barnstable,  who 
has  been  used  to  these  craft  all  his  life.     A  whale 
boat  is  made  to  pull  with  a  tub  and  line  in  it,  as 
naturally  as  a  ship  is  made  to  sail  with  ballast, 
and—" 

"  Out  with  it,  out  with  it,"  interrupted  the 
other,  with  an  impatient  gesture,  that  his  cockswain 
knew  signified  a  positive  determination.  Heaving 
a  sigh  at  what  he  deemed  his  commander's  preju 
dice,  Tom  applied  himself,  without  farther  delay, 
to  the  execution  of  the  orders.  Barnstable  laid 
his  hand  familiarly  on  the  shoulder  of  the  boy, 
and  led  him  to  the  stern  of  his  little  vessel,  in  pro 
found  silence.  The  canvass  hood  that  covered 
the  entrance  to  the  cabin  was  thrown  partly  aside, 
and  by  the  light  of  the  lamp  that  was  burning  in 
the  small  apartment,  it  was  easy  to  overlook,  from 
the  deck,  what  was  passing  beneath  them.  Dillon 
sat  supporting  his  head  with  his  t\vo  hands,  in  a 
manner  that  shaded  his  face,  but  in  an  attitude  that 
denoted  deep  and  abstracted  musing. 

"  I  would  that  I  could  see  the  face  of  my  pri 
soner,"  said  Barnstable,  in  an  under  tone,  that  was 
audible  only  to  his  companion.  "  The  eye  of  a 
man  is  a  sort  of  light-house,  to  tell  one  how  to 
steer  into  the  haven  of  his  confidence,  boy." 

"  And  sometimes  a  beacon,  sir,  to  warn  you, 
there  is  no  safe  anchorage  near  him,"  returned  the 
ready  boy. 

"Rogue!"  muttered  Barnstable,  "youi  cousin 
Kate  spoke  there." 

"  If  my  cousin  Plowden  were  here,  Mr.  Barn 
stable,  I  know  that  her  opinion  of  yon  gentleman 
would  not  be  at  all  more  favourable." 

"  And  yet,  I  have  determined  to  trust  him  ! 
Listen,  boy,  and  tell  me  if  I  am  wrong ;  you 
have  a  quick  wit,  like  some  others  of  your  family, 


THE    PILOT.  309 

and  may  suggest  something  advantageous."  The 
gratified  midshipman  swelled  with  the  conscious 
pleasure  of  possessing  his  commander's  confidence, 
and  followed  to  the  taffrail,  over  which  Barnstable 
leaned,  while  he  delivered  the  remainder  of  his 
communication.  "  I  have  gathered  from  the  'long 
shore-men  who  have  come  off,  this  evening,  to 
stare  at  the  vessel  which  the  rebels  have  been  able 
to  build,  that  a  party  of  seamen  and  marines  have 
been  captured  in  an  old  ruin  near  the  Abbey  of  St. 
Ruth,  this  very  day." 

"  'Tis  Mr.  Griffith !"  exclaimed  the  boy. 

"  Ay !  the  wit  of  your  cousin  Katherine  was  not 
necessary  to  discover  that.  Now,  I  have  proposed 
to  this  gentleman  with  the  Savannah  face,  that  he 
should  go  into  the  Abbey,  and  negotiate  an  exchange, 
I  will  give  him  for  Griffith,  and  the  crew  of  the 
Alacrity  for  Manual's  command  and  the  Tigers." 

"  The  Tigers !"  cried  the  lad,  with  emotion , 
"  have  they  got  my  Tigers,  too  !  would  to  God 
that  Mr.  Griffith  had  permitted  me  to  land !" 

"  It  was  no  boy's  work  they  were  about,  and 
room  was  scarcer  in  their  boat  than  live-lumber. 
But  this  Mr.  Dillon  has  accepted  my  proposition, 
and  has  pledged  himself  that  Griffith  shall  return 
within  an  hour  after  he  is  permitted  to  enter  the  Ab 
bey:  will  he  redeem  his  honour  from  the  pledge?" 

"  He  may,"  said  Merry,  musing  a  moment, 
"  for  I  believe  he  thinks  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Griffith  under  the  same  roof  with  Miss  Howard,  a 
thing  to  be  prevented,  if  possible  ;  he  may  be  true 
in  this  instance,  though  he  has  a  hollow  look." 

"  He  has  bad-looking  light-houses,  I  will  own," 
said  Barnstable  ;  "  and  yet  he  is  a  gentleman,  and 
promises  fair ;  'tis  unmanly  to  suspect  him  in  such 
a  matter,  and  I  will  have  faith !  Now  listen,  sir, 
The  absence  of  older  heads  must  throw  great  re- 


310  THE    1JLOT. 

sponsibility  on  your  young  shoulders ;  watch  that 
battery  as  closely  as  if  you  were  at  the  mast-head 
of  your  frigate,  on  the  look-out  for  an  enemy  ;  the 
instant  you  see  lights  moving  in  it,  cut,  and  run 
into  the  offing ;  you  will  find  me  somewhere  under 
the  cliffs,  and  you  will  stand  off  and  on,  keeping  the 
Abbey  in  sight,  until  you  fall  in  with  us." 

Merry  gave  an  attentive  ear  to  these  and  divers 
other  solemn  injunctions  that  he  received  from  his 
commander,  who,  having  sent  the  officer  next  to 
himself  in  authority  in  charge  of  the  prize,  (the 
third  in  command  being  included  in  the  list  of  the 
wounded,)  was  compelled  to  intrust  his  beloved 
schooner  to  the  vigilance  of  a  lad  whose  years 
gave  no  promise  of  the  experience  and  skill  that  he 
actually  possessed. 

When  his  admonitory  instructions  were  ended, 
Barnstable  stepped  again  to  the  opening  in  the 
cabin-hood,  and  for  a  single  moment  before  he 
spoke,  once  more  examined  th »,  countenance  of  his 
prisoner,  with  a  keen  eye.  Dillon  had  removed 
his  hands  from  before  his  sallow  features,  and,  as 
if  conscious  of  the  scrutiny  his  looks  were  to  un 
dergo,  had  concentrated  the  whole  expression  of 
his  forbidding  aspect  in  a  settled  gaze  of  hopeless 
submission  to  his  fate.  At  least,  so  thought  his 
captor,  and  the  idea  touched  some  of  the  finer 
feelings  in  the  bosom  of  the  generous  young 
seaman.  Discarding,  instantly,  every  suspicion 
of  his  prisoner's  honour,  as  alike  unworthy  of 
them  both,  Barnstable  summoned  him,  in  a 
cheerful  voice,  to  the  boat.  There  was  a  flashing 
of  the  features  of  Dillon,  at  this  call,  which 
gave  an  indefinable  expression  to  his  countenance, 
that  again  startled  the  sailor ;  but  it  was  so  very 
transient,  and  could  so  easily  be  mistaken  for  a 


THE    PILOT.  311 

smile  of  pleasure  at  his  promised  liberation,  that 
the  doubts  it  engendered  passed  away  almost  as 
speedily  as  the  equivocal  expression  itself.  Barn- 
stable  was  in  the  act  of  following  his  companion 
into  the  boat,  when  he  felt  himself  detained  by  a 
slight  hold  of  his  arm. 

"  What  would  you  have  ?"  he  asked  of  the  mid 
shipman,  who  had  given  him  the  signal. 

"  Do  not  trust  too  much  to  that  Dillon,  sir,'1 
returned  the  anxious  boy,  in  a  whisper  ;  "  if  you 
had  seen  his  face,  as  I  did,  when  the  binnaclfc 
light  fell  upon  it,  as  he  came  up  the  cabin  ladder, 
you  would  put  no  faith  in  him." 

"  I  should  have  seen  no  beauty,"  said  the  gene 
rous  lieutenant,  laughing  ;  "  but,  there  is  long 
Tom,  as  hard-featured  a  youth  of  two  score  and 
ten  as  ever  washed  in  brine,  who  has  a  heart  as 
big,  ay,  bigger  than  that  of  a  kraaken.  A  bright 
wratch  to  you,  boy,  and  remember,  a  keen  eye 
on  the  battery."  As  he  was  yet  speaking,  Barn- 
stable  crossed  the  gunwale  of  his  little  vessel, 
and  it  was  not  until  he  was  seated  by  the  side  of 
his  prisoner,  that  he  continued,  aloud — "  Cast  the 
stops  off  your  sails,  Mr.  Merry,  and  see  all  clear, 
to  make  a  run  of  every  thing;  recollect,  you  are 
short-handed,  sir.  God  bless  ye  \  and  d'ye  hear  t 
if  there  is  a  man  among  you  who  shuts  more  than 
one  eye  at  a  time,  I'll  make  him,  when  I  get  back, 
open  both  wider  than  if  Tom  Coffin's  friend,  the 
FLying  Dutchman,  was  booming  down  upon  him. 
God  bless  ye,  Merry,  my  boy  ;  give  'em  the 
square-sail,  if  this  breeze  off-shore  holds  on  till 
morning; : — shove  off." 

As  Barnstable  gave  the  last  order,  he  fell  back 
on  his  seat,  and,  drawing  his  boat-cloak  around 
him,  maintained  a  profound  silence,  until  they  had 


312  THE    PILOT. 

passed  the  two  small  headlands  that  formed  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour.  The  men  pulled,  with 
muffled  oars,  their  long,  vigorous  strokes,  arid  the 
boat  glided,  with  amazing  rapidity,  by  the  objects 
that  could  be  yet  indistinctly  seen  along  the  dim 
shore.  When,  however,  they  had  gained  the 
open  ocean,  and  the  direction  of  their  little  bark 
was  changed  to  one  that  led  them  in  a  line  with 
the  coast,  and  within  the  shadows  of  the  cliffs, 
the  cockswain,  deeming  that  the  silence  was  no 
linger  necessary  to  their  safety,  ventured  to  break 
it,  as  follows — 

"A  square-sail  is  a  good  sail  to  carry  on  a 
craft,  dead  afore  it,  and  in  a  heavy  sea;  but  if 
fifty  years  can  teach  a  man  to  know  the  weather, 
it's  my  judgment  that  should  the  Ariel  break  ground 
after  the  night  turns  at  eight  bells,  she'll  need  her 
main-sail  to  hold  her  up  to  her  course." 

The  lieutenant  started  at  this  sudden  interrup 
tion,  and  casting  his  cloak  from  his  shoulders,  he 
looked  abroad  on  the  waters,  as  if  seeking  those 
portentous  omens  which  disturbed  the  imagination 
of  his  cockswain. 

"  How  now,  Tom,"  he  said,  sharply,  "  have  ye 
turned  croaker  in  your  old  age  ?  what  see  you,  to 
cause  such  an  old  woman's  ditty  !" 

"  'Tis  no  song  of  an  old  woman,"  returned 
the  cockswain,  with  solemn  earnestness,  "  but  the 
warning  of  an  old  man ;  and  one  who  has  spent 
his  days  where  there  were  no  hills  to  prevent  the 
winds  of  heaven  from  blowing  on  him,  unless  they 
were  hills  of  salt  water  and  foam.  I  judge,  sir, 
there'll  be  a  heavy  north-easter  setting  in  upon  us 
afore  the  morning  watch  is  called." 

Barnstable  knew  the  experience  of  his  old  mess 
mate  too  well,  to  feel  no  uneasiness  at  such  an  opi- 


THE    PILOT.  313 

nion,  delivered  in  so  portentous  a  manner ;  but  after 
again  surveying  the  horizon,  the  heavens,  and  the 
ocean,  he  said,  with  a  continued  severity  of  man 
ner — 

"  Your  prophecy  is  idle,  this  time,  Master 
Coffin  ;  every  thing  looks  like  a  dead  calm.  This 
swell  is  what  is  left  from  the  last  blow ;  the  mist 
over-head  is  nothing  but  the  nightly  fog,  and 
you  can  see,  with  your  own  eyes,  that  it  is  driving 
seaward ;  even  this  land  breeze  is  nothing  but  the 
air  of  the  ground  mixing  with  that  of  the  ocean ; 
it  is  heavy  with  dew  and  fog,  but  it's  as  sluggish 
as  a  Dutch  galliot." 

"  Ay,  sir,  it  is  damp,  and  there  is  little  of  it," 
rejoined  Tom;  "but  as  it  comes  only  from  the 
shore,  so  it  never  goes  far  on  the  water.  It  is  hard 
to  learn  the  true  signs  of  the  weather,  Captain 
Barnstable,  and  none  get  to  know  them  well,  but 
such  as  study  little  else,  or  feel  but  little  else. 
There  is  only  One  who  can  see  the  winds  of  hea 
ven,  or  who  can  tell  when  a  hurricane  is  to  begin, 
or  where  it  will  end.  Still,  a  man  isn't  like  a 
whale  or  a  porpoise,  that  takes  the  air  in  his  nos 
trils,  but  never  knows  whether  it  is  a  south-easter 
or  a  north-wester  that  he  feeds  upon.  Look, 
broad-off  to  leeward,  sir ;  see  the  streak  of  clear 
sky  shining  under  the  mists ;  take  an  old  seafaring 
man's  word  for  it,  Captain  Barnstable,  that  when 
ever  the  light  shines  out  of  the  heavens  in  that 
fashion,  'tis  never  done  for  nothing ;  besides,  the 
sun  set  in  a  dark  bank  of  clouds,  and  the  little 
inoon  we  had  was  dry  and  windy." 

Barnstable  listened  attentively,   and  with   in 
creasing  concern,  for  he  well  knew  that  his  cock 
swain  possessed  a  quick  and  almost  unerring  judg 
ment  of  the  weather,  notwithstanding  the  confusea 
27 


314  THE    PILOT. 

medley  of  superstitious  omens  and  signs  with 
which  it  was  blended ;  but,  again  throwing  himself 
back  in  his  boat,  he  muttered — 

"  Then  let  it  blow ;  Griffith  is  worth  a  heavier 
risk,  and  if  the  battery  can't  be  cheated,  it  can  be 
carried." 

Nothing  further  passed  on  the  state  of  the  wea 
ther.  Dillon  had  not  ventured  a  single  remark 
since  he  entered  the  boat,  and  the  cockswain  had 
the  discretion  to  understand  that  his  officer  was 
willing  to  be  left  to  his  own  thoughts.  For  neai 
an  hour  they  pursued  their  way  with  diligence ; 
the  sinewy  seamen,  who  wielded  the  oars,  urging 
their  light  boat  along  the  edge  of  the  surf  with 
unabated  velocity,  and,  apparently,  with  untired 
exertions.  Occasionally,  Barnstable  would  cast 
an  inquiring  glance  at  the  little  inlets  that  they 
passed,  or  would  note,  with  a  seaman's  eye,  the 
small  portions  of  sandy  beach  that  were  scattered 
here  and  there  along  the  rocky  boundaries  of  the 
coast.  One,  in  particular,  a  deeper  inlet  than 
common,  where  a  run  of  fresh  water  was  heard 
gurgling  as  it  met  the  tide,  he  pointed  out  to  his 
cockswain,  by  significant,  but  silent  gestures,  as  a 
place  to  be  especially  noted.  Tom,  who  under 
stood  the  signal  as  intended  for  his  own  eye  alone, 
made  his  observations  on  the  spot,  with  equal 
taciturnity,  but  with  all  the  minuteness  that  would 
distinguish  one  long  accustomed  to  find  his  way, 
whether  by  land  or  water,  by  land-marks,  and 
the  bearings  of  different  objects.  Soon  after  this 
silent  communication  between  the  lieutenant  and 
his  cockswain,  the  boat  was  suddenly  turned,  and 
was  in  the  act  of  dashing  upon  the  spit  of  sand 
before  it,  when  Barnstable  checked  the  movement 
by  his  voice — 


THE    PILOT.  315 

"  Hold  water !"  he  said ;  "  'tis  the  sound  of 
oars  !" 

The  seamen  held  their  boat  at  rest,  while  a  deep 
attention  was  given  to  the  noise  that  had  alarmed 
the  ears  of  their  commander. 

"  See,  sir,"  said  the  cockswain,  pointing  to 
wards  the  eastern  horizon ;  "  it  is  just  rising  into 
the  streak  of  light  to  seaward  of  us — now  it  settles 
in  the  trough — ah !  here  you  have  it  again  !" 

"  By  heavens  !"  cried  Barnstable,  "  'tis  a  man- 
of-war's  stroke  it  pulls ;  I  saw  the  oar-blades 
as  they  fell !  and,  listen  to  the  sound !  neither 
your  fisherman  nor  your  smuggler  pulls  such  a  re 
gular  oar." 

Tom  had  bowed  his  head  nearly  to  the  water, 
in  the  act  of  listening,  and  now,  raising  himself,  he 
spoke  with  confidence — 

"  That  is  the  Tiger  ;  I  know  the  stroke  of  her 
crew  as  well  as  I  do  of  my  own.  Mr.  Merry 
has  made  them  learn  the  new-fashioned  jerk,  as 
they  dip  their  blades,  and  they  feather  with  such 
a  roll  in  their  rullocks  !  I  could  swear  to  the 
stroke." 

"  Hand  me  the  night-glass,"  said  his  comman 
der,  impatiently!  "  I  can  catch  them,  as  they  are 
lifted  into  the  streak.  You  are  right,  by  every 
star  in  our  flag,  Tom  ! — but  there  is  only  one 
man  in  her  stern-sheets.  By  my  good  eyes,  I 
believe  it  is  that  accursed  Pilot,  sneaking  from 
the  land,  and  leaving  Griffith  and  Manual  to  die 
in  English  prisons.  To  shore  with  you — beach 
her  at  once," 

The  order  was  no  sooner  given,  than  it  was 
obeyed,  and  in  less  than  two  minutes,  the  impa 
tient  Barnstable,  Dillon,  and  the  cockswain,  were 
standing  together  on  the  sands. 


316  THE    PILOT. 

The  impression  he  had  received,  that  his  friends 
Were  abandoned  to  their  fate  by  the  pilot,  urged 
the  generous  young  seaman  to  hasten  the  depar 
ture  of  his  prisoner,  as  he  was  fearful  every  mo 
ment  might  interpose  some  new  obstacle  to  the 
success  of  his  plans. 

"  Mr.  Dillon,"  he  said,  the  instant  they  were 
landed,  "  I  exact  no  new  promise — your  honour  is 
already  plighted" — 

"  If  oaths  can  make  it  stronger,"  interrupted 
Dillon,  "  I  will  take  them." 

"  Oaths  cannot — the  honour  of  a  gentleman 
is,  at  all  times,  enough.  I  shall  send  my  cock 
swain  with  you  to  the  Abbey,  and  you  will  either 
return  with  him,  in  person,  within  two  hours,  or 
give  Mr.  Griffith  and  Captain  Manual  to  his 
guidance.  Proceed,  sir,  you  are  conditionally 
free ;  there  is  an  easy  opening  by  which  to  ascend 
the  cliffs." 

Dillon  once  more  thanked  his  generous  captor, 
and  then  proceeded  to  force  his  way  up  the  rough 
eminence. 

"  Follow,  and  obey  his  instructions,"  said  Barn- 
stable  to  his  cockswain,  aloud. 

Tom,  long  accustomed  to  implicit  obedience, 
handled  his  harpoon,  and  was  quietly  following  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  new  leader,  when  he  felt  the 
hand  of  the  lieutenant  on  his  shoulder. 

"  You  saw  where  the  brook  emptied  over  the 
hillock   of  sand  ?"   said  Barnstable,   in  an   unde 
tone. 

Tom  nodded  assent. 

"  You  will  find  us  there  riding  without  the  surf 
—'twill  not  do  to  trust  too  much  to  an  enemy." 

The  cockswain  made  a  gesture  of  great  signi 
ficance  with  his  weapon,  that  was  intended  to 


THE    PILOT.  317 

indicate  the  danger  their  prisonei  would  incur, 
should  he  prove  false ;  when,  applying  the  wooden 
end  of  the  harpoon  to  the  rocks,  he  ascended  the 
ravine  at  a  rate  that  soon  brought  him  to  the  side 
of  his  companion. 

27* 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


44  Ay,  marry,  let  me  have  him  to  sit  under ; 
He'a  like  to  be  a  cold  soldier." 

Falstaff. 

BARNSTABJLE  lingered  on  the  sands  for  a  few  mi 
nutes,  until  the  footsteps  of  Dillon  and  the  cock 
swain  were  no  longer  audible,  when  he  ordered 
his  men  to  launch  their  boat  once  more  into  the 
surf.  While  the  seamen  pulled  leisurely  towards 
the  place  he  had  designated,  as  the  point  where  he 
would  await  the  return  of  Tom,  the  lieutenant 
first  began  to  entertain  serious  apprehensions 
concerning  the  good  faith  of  his  prisoner.  Now 
that  Dillon  was  beyond  his  control,  his  imagina 
tion  presented,  in  very  vivid  colours,  several 
little  circumstances  in  the  other's  conduct,  which 
might  readily  excuse  some  doubts  of  his  good 
faith,  and,  by  the  time  they  had  reached  the  place 
of  rendezvous,  and  had  cast  a  light  grapnel  into 
the  sea,  his  fears  had  rendered  him  excessively 
uncomfortable.  Leaving  the  lieutenant  to  his  re 
flections  on  this  unpleasant  subject,  we  shall  fol 
low  Dillon  and  his  fearless  and  unsuspecting  com 
panion  in  their  progress  towards  St.  Ruth. 

The  mists  to  which  Tom  had  alluded,  in  his 
discussion  with  his  commander,  on  the  state  of 
the  weather,  appeared  to  be  settling  nearer  to  the 
earth,  and  assuming  more  decidedly  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  fog,  hanging  above  them  in  sluggish 


THE    PILOT.  319 

volumes,  but  little  agitated  by  the  air.  The  con 
sequent  obscurity  added  deeply  to  the  gloom  of 
the  night,  and  it  would  have  been  difficult  for  one 
less  acquainted  than  Dillon  with  the  surrounding 
localities,  to  have  found  the  path  which  led  to  the 
dwelling  of  Colonel  Howard.  After  some  little 
search,  this  desirable  object  was  effected,  and  the 
civilian  led  the  way,  with  rapid  strides,  towards 
the  Abbey. 

"  Ay,  ay  !"  said  Tom,  who  followed  his  steps, 
and  equalled  his  paces,  without  any  apparent  ef 
fort,  "  you  shore-people  have  an  easy  way  to  find 
your  course  and  distance,  wh^n  you  get  into  the 
track.  I  was  once  left  by  the  craft  I  belonged  to, 
in  Boston,  to  find  my  way  to  Plymouth,  which  is 
a  matter  of  fifteen  leagues,  or  thereaway ;  and, 
so  finding  nothing  was  bound  up  the  bay,  after 
lying-by  for  a  week,  I  concluded  to  haul  aboard 
my  land-tacks.  I  spent  the  better  part  of  ano 
ther  week  in  a  search  for  some  hooker,  on  board 
which  I  might  work  my  passage  across  the  coun 
try,  foi  money  was  as  scarce  then  with  old  Tom 
Coffin  as  it  is  now,  and  is  likely  to  be,  unless  the 
fisheries  get  a  good  luff  soon ;  but  it  seems  that 
nothing  but  your  horse-flesh,  and  horned  cattle, 
and  jack-asses,  are  privileged  to  do  the  pulling 
and  hauling  in  your  shore-hookers;  and  I  was 
forced  to  pay  a  week's  wages  for  a  birth,  besides 
keeping  a  banyan  on  a  mouthful  of  bread  and 
cheese,  from  the  time  we  hove-up  in  Boston,  till 
we  came- to  in  Plymouth  town." 

"  It  was  certainly  an  unreasonable  exaction,  on 
the  part  of  the  waggoners,  from  a  man  in  your  si 
tuation,"  said  Dillon,  in  a  friendly,  soothing  tone 
of  voice,  that  denoted  a  willingness  to  pursue  the 
conversation. 

"  My  situation  was  that  of  a  cabin  passenger," 


320  THE    PILOT. 

returned  the  cockswain ;  "  for  there  was  but  one 
hand  forward,  beside  the  cattle  I  mentioned — thai 
was  he  who  steered — and  an  easy  birth  he  had  of 
it ;  for  there  his  course  lay  a-tween  walls  of  stone, 
and  fences ;  and,  as  for  his  reckoning,  why,  they 
had  stuck  up  bits  of  stone  on  end,  with  his  day's 
woik  footed  up,  ready  to  his  hand,  every  half 
league  or  so.  Besides,  the  land-marks  were  so 
plenty,  that  a  man,  with  half-an-eye,  might  steer 
her,  and  no  fear  of  getting  to  leeward." 

"  You  must  have  found  yourself,  as  it  were  in  a 
new  world,"  observed  Dillon. 

"  Why,  to  me,  it  was  pretty  much  the  same  aa 
if  I  had  been  set  afloat  in  a  strange  country, 
though  I  may  be  said  to  be  a  native  of  those 
parts,  being  born  on  the  coast.  I  had  often  heard 
shore-men  say,  that  there  was  as  much  'arth 
as  water  in  the  world,  which  I  always  set  down 
as  a  rank  lie,  for  I'-ve  sailed  with  a  flowing  sheet 
months  an-end,  without  falling  in  with  as  much 
land  or  rock  as  would  answer  a  gull  to  lay  its  eggs 
on ;  but  I  will  own,  that  a-tween  Boston  and  Ply 
mouth,  we  were  out-of-sight  of  water  for  as  much 
as  two  full  watches  !" 

Dillon  pursued  this  interesting  subject  with 
great  diligence ;  and  by  the  time  they  reached  the 
wall,  which  enclosed  the  large  paddock  that  sur 
rounded  the  Abbey,  the  cockswain  was  deeply 
involved  in  a  discussion  of  the  comparative  mag 
nitude  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the  Continent  of 
America. 

Avoiding  the  principal  entrance  to  the  building, 
through  the  great  gates  which  communicated 
with  the  court  in  front,  Dillon  followed  the  wind 
ings  of  the  wall  until  it  led  them  to  a  wicket, 
which  he  knew  was  seldom  closed  for  the  night, 
until  the  hour  for  general  rest  had  arrived.  Theii 


THE    PILOT  321 

way  now  lay  in  the  rear  of  the  principal  edifice, 
and  soon  conducted  them  to  the  confused  pile 
which  contained  the  offices.  The  cockswain  fol 
lowed  his  companion  with  a  confiding  reliance  on 
his  knowledge  and  good  faith,  that  was  a  good 
deal  increased  by  the  freedom  of  communication 
that  had  been  maintained  during  their  walk  from 
the  cliffs.  He  did  not  perceive  any  thing  ex 
traordinary  in  the  other's  stopping  at  the  room, 
which  had  been  provided  as  a  sort  of  barracks 
for  the  soldiers  of  Captain  Borroughcliffe.  A 
conference  which  took  place  between  Dillon  and 
the  sergeant  was  soon  ended,  when  the  former 
beckoned  to  the  cockswain  to  follow,  and,  taking 
a  circuit  round  the  whole  of  the  offices,  they  en 
tered  the  Abbey  together,  by  the  door  through 
which  the  ladies  had  issued,  when  in  quest  of  the 
three  prisoners,  as  has  been  already  related. — 
After  a  turn  or  two  among  the  narrow  passages 
of  that  part  of  the  edifice,  Tom,  whose  faith  in 
the  facilities  of  land  navigation  began  to  be  a 
little  shaken,  found  himself  following  his  guide 
through  a  long,  dark  gallery,  that  was  terminated 
at  the  end  toward  which  they  were  approaching, 
by  a  half-open  door,  that  admitted  a  glimpse  into  a 
well-lighted  and  comfortable  apartment.  To  this 
door  Dillon  hastily  advanced,  and,  throwing  it 
open,  the  cockswain  enjoyed  a  full  view  of  the 
very  scene  that  we  described,  in  introducing  Col. 
Howard  to  the  acquaintance  of  the  reader,  and 
under  circumstances  of  great  similitude.  The 
cheerful  fire  of  coal,  the  strong  and  glaring  lights, 
the  tables  of  polished  mahogany,  and  the  blushing 
fluids,  were  still  the  same  in  appearance,  while 
the  only  perceptible  change  was  in  the  number  of 
those  who  partook  of  the  cheer.  The  master  of 
die  mansion,  and  Borroughcliffe,  were  seated  op- 


322  THE    PILOT. 

posite  to  each  other,  employed  in  discussing  the 
events  of  the  day,  and  diligently  pushing  to  and 
fro  the  glittering  vessel,  that  contained  a  portion 
of  the  generous  liquor  they  both  loved  so  well ;  a 
task  which  each  moment  rendered  lighter. 

"  If  Kit  would  but  return,"  exclaimed  the  vete 
ran,  whose  back  was  to  the  opening  door,  "  bringing 
with  him  his  honest  brows  encircled,  as  they  will 
be,  or  ought  to  be,  with  laurel,  I  should  be  the 
happiest  old  fool,  Borroughcliffe,  in  his  majesty's 
realm  of  Great  Britain  !" 

The  captain,  who  felt  the  necessity  for  the  un 
natural  restraint  he  had  imposed  on  his  thirst,  to 
be  removed  by  the  capture  of  his  enemies,  pointed 
towards  the  door  with  one  hand,  while  he  grasped 
the  sparkling  reservoir  of  the  "  south  side"  with 
the  other,  and  answered — 

"  Lo !  the  Cacique  himself!  his  brow  inviting 
the  diadem — ha !  who  have  we  in  his  highness's 
train  ?  By  the  Lord,  sir  Cacique,  if  you  travel 
with  a  body  guard  of  such  grenadiers,  old  Frede 
ric  of  Prussia  himself  will  have  occasion  to  envy 
you  the  corps  !  a  clear  six-footer  in  nature's  stock 
ings  !  and  the  arms  as  unique  as  the  armed  !" 

The  colonel  did  not,  however,  attend  to  half  of 
his  companion's  exclamations,  but  turning,  he  be 
held  the  individual  he  had  so  much  desired,  and 
received  him  with  a  delight  proportioned  to  the 
unexpectedness  of  the  pleasure.  For  several 
minutes,  Dillon  was  compelled  to  listen  to  the 
rapid  questions  of  his  venerable  relative,  to  all  of 
which  he  answered  with  a  prudent  reserve,  that 
might,  in  some  measure,  have  been  governed  by 
the  presence  of  the  cockswain.  Tom  stood  with 
infinite  composure,  leaning  on  his  harpoon,  and 
surveying,  with  a  countenance  where  wonder  wig 
singularly  blended  with  contempt,  the  furniture 


THE    PILOT. 


and  arrangements  of  an  apartment  that  was  far 
more  splendid  than  any  he  had  before  seen.  In 
the  mean  time,  Borroughcliffe  entirely  disregard 
ed  the  private  communications  that  passed  be 
tween  his  host  and  Dillon,  which  gradually  be 
came  more  deeply  interesting,  and  finally  drew 
them  to  a  distant  corner  of  the  apartment,  bu< 
taking  a  most  undue  advantage  of  the  absence  of 
the  gentleman,  who  had  so  lately  been  his  boon 
companion,  he  swallowed  one  potation  after  an 
other,  as  if  a  double  duty  had  devolved  on  him, 
in  consequence  of  the  desertion  of  the  veteran. 
Whenever  his  eye  did  wander  from  the  ruby  tints 
of  his  glass,  it  was  to  survey,  with  unrepressed 
admiration,  the  inches  of  the  cockswain,  about 
whose  stature  and  frame  there  were  numberless 
excellent  points  to  attract  the  gaze  of  a  recruiting 
officer.  From  this  double  pleasure,  the  captain 
was,  however,  at  last  summoned,  to  participate  in 
the  councils  of  his  friends. 

Dillon  was  spared  the  disagreeable  duty  of  re 
peating  the  artful  tale  he  had  found  it  necessary 
to  palm  on  the  colonel,  by  the  ardour  of  the  vete 
ran  himself,  who  executed  the  task  in  a  manner 
that  gave  to  the  treachery  of  his  kinsman  every 
appearance  of  a  justifiable  artifice  and  of  unshaken 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  prince.  In  substance, 
Tom  was  to  be  detained  as  a  prisoner,  and  the 
party  of  Barnstable  were  to  be  entrapped,  and  o* 
course  to  share  a  similar  fate.  The  sunken  eye 
of  Dillon  cowered  before  the  steady  gaze  which 
Borroughcliffe  fastened  on  him,  as  the  latter  lis 
tened  to  the  plaudits  the  colonel  lavished  on  his 
cousin's  ingenuity ;  but  the  hesitation  that  lingered 
in  the  soldier's  mariner  vanished,  when  he  turned 
to  examine  their  unsuspecting  prisoner,  who  was 
continuing  his  survey  of  the  apartment,  while  he 


324  THE    PILOT. 

innocently  imagined  the  consultations  he  witnessed 
were  merely  the  proper  and  preparatory  steps  to 
his  admission  into  the  presence  of  Mr.  Griffith. 

"  Drill,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  aloud,  "  advance 
and  receive  your  orders.  The  cockswain  turned 
quickly,  at  this  sudden  mandate,  and  for  the  first 
time,  perceived  that  he  had  been  followed  into  the 
gallery,  by  the  orderly,  and  two  files  of  the  re 
cruits,  armed.  "  Take  this  man  to  the  guard 
room,  and  feed  him ;  and  see  that  he  dies  not  of 
thirst." 

There  was  nothing  alarming  in  this  order ;  and 
Tom  was  following  the  soldiers,  in  obedience  to  a 
gesture  from  their  captain,  when  their  steps  were 
arrested  in  the  gallery,  by  the  cry  of  "  Halt." 

"  On  recollection,  Drill,"  said  Borroughcliffe, 
in  a  tone  from  which  all  dictatorial  sounds  were 
banished,  "  show  the  gentleman  into  my  own 
room,  and  see  him  properly  supplied." 

The  orderly  gave  such  an  intimation  of  his 
comprehending  the  meaning  of  his  officer,  as  the 
latter  was  accustomed  to  receive,  when  Borrough  - 
cliffe  returned  to  his  bottle,  and  the  cockswain 
followed  his  guide,  with  an  alacrity  and  good  will 
that  were  not  a  little  increased  by  the  repeated 
mention  of  the  cheer  that  awaited  him. 

Luckily  for  the  impatience  of  Tom,  the  quar 
ters  of  the  captain  were  at  hand,  and  the  promised 
entertainment  by  no  means  slow  in  making  its 
appearance.  The  former  was  an  apartment  that 
opened  from  a  lesser  gallery,  which  communicated 
with  the  principal  passage  already  mentioned ;  and 
the  latter  was  a  bountiful  but  ungarnished  supply 
of  that  staple  of  the  British  isles,  called  roast 
beef:  of  which  the  kitchen  of  Colonel  Howard 
was  never  without  a  due  and  loyal  provision.— 
The  sergeant,  who  certainly  understood  one  of  the 


THE  PLLOT.  325 

signs  of  his  captain  to  imply  an  attack  on  the  cita 
del  of  the  cockswain's  brain,  mingled,  with  his 
own  hands,  a  potation,  that  he  styled  a  rummer  of 
grog,  and  which  he  thought  would  have  felled 
the  animal  itself  that  Tom  was  so  diligently  mas 
ticating,  had  it  been  alive,  and  in  its  vigour. 
Every  calculation  that  was  made  on  the  infirmity 
of  the  cockswain's  intellect,  under  the  stimulus 
of  Jamaica,  was,  however,  futile.  He  swallowed 
glass  after  glass,  with  prodigious  relish,  but,  at 
the  same  time,  with  immoveable  steadiness ;  and 
the  eyes  of  the  sergeant,  who  felt  it  incumbent 
to  do  honour  to  his  own  cheer,  were  already 
glistening  in  his  head,  when,  happily  for  the  credit 
of  his  heart,  a  tap  at  the  door  announced  the  pre 
sence  of  his  captain,  and  relieved  him  from  the 
impending  disgrace  of  being  drunk  blind  by  a 
recruit. 

As  Borroughcliffe  entered  the  apartment,  he 
commanded  his  orderly  to  retire,  adding — 

"  Mr.  Dillon  will  give  you  instructions,  which 
you  are  implicitly  to  obey." 

Drill,  who  had  sense  enough  remaining  to 
apprehend  the  displeasure  of  his  officer,  should 
the  latter  discover  his  condition,  quickened  his 
departure,  and  the  cockswain  soon  found  himself 
alone  with  the  captain.  The  vigour  of  Tom's 
attacks  on  the  remnants  of  the  sirloin  was  now 
much  abated,  leaving  in  its  place  that  placid  quiet 
which  is  apt  to  linger  about  the  palate,  long  after 
the  cravings  of  the  appetite  have  been  appeased. 
He  had  seated  himself  on  one  of  the  trunks  of  Bor 
roughcliffe,  utterly  disdaining  the  use  of  a  chair, 
and,  with  the  trencher  in  his  lap,  was  using  his  own 
jack-knife  on  the  dilapidated  fragment  of  the  ox, 
with  something  of  that  nicety  with  which  the  fe 
male  goule,  of  the  Arabian  Tales,  might  be  supposed 


326  THE    PILOT. 

to  pick  her  rice  with  the  point  of  her  bodkin. 
The  captain  drew  a  seat  nigh  the  cockswain, 
and,  with  a  familiarity  and  kindness  infinitely  con 
descending,  when  the  difference  in  their  severa1. 
conditions  is  considered,  he  commenced  the  fol 
lowing  dialogue : 

"  [  hope  you  have  found  your  entertainment  to 
your  liking,  Mr.  a — a — I  must  own  my  ignorance 
of  your  name." 

"  Tom,"  said  the  cockswain,  keeping  his  eyes 
roaming  over  the  contents  of  the  trencher  ;  "  com 
monly  called  long  Tom  by  my  shipmates." 

"  You  have  sailed  with  discreet  men,  and  able 
navigators,  it  will  seem,  as  they  understand  longi 
tude  so  well,"  rejoined  the  captain;  "but  you  have 
a  patronymick — I  would  say,  another  name  ?" 

"  Coffin,"  returned  the  cockswain  ;  "  I'm  called 
Tom,  when  there  is  any  hurry,  such  as  letting  go 
the  haulyards,  or  a  sheet ;  long  Tom,  when  they 
want  to  get  to  windward  of  an  old  seaman,  by 
fair  weather ;  and  long  Tom  Coffin,  when  they 
wish  to  hail  me,  so  that  none  of  my  cousins  of 
the  same  name,  about  the  islands,  shall  answer ; 
for  I  believe  the  best  man  among  them  can't  mea 
sure  much  over  a  fkthom,  taking  him  from  his 
head-works  to  his  heel." 

"  You  are  a  most  deserving  fellow,"  cried  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  "  and  it  is  painful  to  think  to  what  a  fate 
the  treachery  of  Mr.  Dillon  has  consigned  you." 

The  suspicions  of  Tom,  if  he  ever  entertained 
any,  were  lulled  to  rest  too  effectually  by  the 
kindness  he  had  received,  to  be  awakened  by  this 
equivocal  lament ;  he,  therefore,  after  renewing 
his  intimacy  with  the  rummer,  contented  himself 
by  saying,  with  a  satisfied  simplicity — 

"  I  am  consigned  to  no  one,  carrying  no  cargo 
but  this  Mr.  Dillon  ;  who  is  to  give  me  Mr.  Grif- 


THE    PILOT.  327 

fith  in  exchange,  or  go  back  to  the  Ariel  himself, 
as  my  prisoner." 

"  Ah  !  rny  good  friend,  I  fear  you  will  find,  when 
the  time  comes  to  make  this  exchange,  that  he 
will  refuse  to  do  either." 

"  But,  I'll  be  d d  if  he  don't  do  one  of 

them !  my  orders  are  to  see  it  done,  and  back  he 
goes ;  or  Mr.  Griffith,  who  is  as  good  a  seaman, 
for  his  years,  as  ever  trod  a  deck,  slips  his  cable 
from  this  here  anchorage." 

Borroughcliffe  affected  to  eye  his  companion 
with  great  commiseration  ;  an  exhibition  of  com 
passion  that  was,  however,  completely  lost  on  the 
cockswain,  whose  nerves  were  strung  to  their  hap 
piest  tension,  by  his  repeated  libations,  while  his 
wit  was,  if  any  thing,  quickened  by  the  same 
cause,  though  his  owrn  want  of  guile  rendered  him 
slow  to  comprehend  its  existence  in  others.  Per 
ceiving  it  necessary  to  speak  plainly,  the  captain 
renewed  the  attack  in  a  more  direct  manner — 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  you  will  not  be  per 
mitted  to  return  to  the  Ariel,  and  that  your  com 
mander,  Mr.  Barnstable,  will  be  a  prisoner  within 
the  hour  ;  and  in  fact,  that  your  schooner  wrill  be 
taken,  before  the  morning  breaks." 

"  Who'll  take  her  ?"  asked  the  cockswain,  with 
a  grim  smile,  on  whose  feelings,  however,  this 
combination  of  threatened  calamities  was  beginning 
to  make  some  impression. 

"  You  must  remember,  that  she  lies  immediate 
ly  under  the  heavy  guns  of  a  battery  that  can 
sink  her  in  a  few  minutes  ;  an  express  has  already 
been  sent  to  acquaint  the  commander  of  the  work 
with  the  Ariel's  true  character ;  and  as  the  wind 
has  already  begun  to  blow  from  the  ocean,  hei 
escape  is  impossible." 

The  tiuth,  together  with  its  portentous  conse- 


328  THE    PILOT. 

quences,  now  began  to  glare  across  the  faculties  of 
the  cockswain.  He  remembered  his  own  prognos 
tics  on  the  weather,  and  the  helpless  situation  of 
the  schooner,  deprived  of  more  than  half  her  crew, 
and  left  to  the  keeping  of  a  boy,  while  her  com 
mander  himself  was  on  the  eve  of  captivity.  The 
trencher  fell  from  his  lap  to  the  floor,  his  head 
sunk  on  his  knees,  his  face  was  concealed  between 
his  broad  palms,  and  in  spite  of  every  effort  the 
old  seaman  could  make  to  conceal  his  emotion,  he 
fairly  groaned  aloud. 

For  a  moment,  the  better  feelings  of  Bor- 
roughcliffe  prevailed,  and  he  paused,  as  he  wit 
nessed  this  exhibition  of  suffering  in  one  whose 
head  was  already  sprinkled  with  the  marks  of  time  ; 
but  his  habits,  and  the  impressions  left  by  many 
years  passed  in  collecting  victims  for  the  wars,  soon 
resumed  their  ascendency,  and  the  recruiting1 
officer  diligently  addressed  himself  to  an  improve 
ment  of  his  advantage. 

"  I  pity,  from  my  heart,  the  poor  lads  whom 
artifice  or  mistaken  notions  of  duty  may  have 
led  astray,  and  who  will  thus  be  taken  in  arms 
against  their  sovereign ;  but  as  they  are  found  in 
the  very  island  of  Britain,  they  must  be  made  ex 
amples  to  deter  others.  I  fear,  that  unless  they 
can  make  their  peace  with  government,  they  will 
all  be  condemned  to  death." 

"  Let  them  make  their  peace  with  God,  then  ; 
your  government  can  do  but  little  to  clear  the  log, 
account  of  a  man  whose  watch  is  up  for  this  world.'' 

"  But,  by  making  their  peace  with  those  who 
have  the  power,  their  lives  may  be  spared,"  said 
the  captain,  watching,  with  keen  eyes,  the  effect 
his  words  produced  on  the  cockswain. 

"  It  matters  but  little  when  a  man  hears  the 
messenger  pipe  his  hammock  down  for  the  last 


THE    PILOT.  329 

time ;  he  keeps  his  watch  in  another  world,  though 
he  goes  below  in  this.  But  to  see  wood  and  iron, 
that  has  been  put  together  after  such  moulds  as 
the  Ariel's,  go  into  strange  hands,  is  a  blow  that  a 
man  may  remember  long  after  the  purser's  books 
have  been  squared  against  his  name  for  ever !  I 
would  rather  that  twenty  shot  should  strike  my 
old  carcass,  than  one  should  hull  the  schooner 
that  didn't  pass  out  above  her  water-line." 

Borroughcliffe  replied,  somewhat  carelessly, 
"  I  may  be  mistaken,  after  all ;  and,  instead  of 
putting  any  of  you  to  death,  they  may  place  you 
all  on  board  the  prison-ships,  where  you  may 
yet  have  a  merry  time  of  it,  these  ten  or  fifteen 
years  to  come." 

"  How's  that,  shipmate  !"  cried  the  cockswain, 
with  a  start ;  "  a  prison-ship,  d'ye  say  ?  you  may 
tell  them  they  can  save  the  expense  of  one  man's 
rations,  by  hanging  him,  if  they  please,  and  that  is 
old  Tom  Coffin." 

"  There  is  no  answering  for  their  caprice :  to 
day,  they  may  order  a  dozen  of  you  to  be  shot  for 
rebels ;  to-morrow  they  may  choose  to  consider  you 
as  prisoners  of  war,  and  send  you  to  the  hulks  for 
a  dozen  years." 

"  Tell  them,  brother,  that  Pm  a  rebel,  will  ye  ? 
and  ye'll  tell  'em  no  lie — one  that  has  fou't  them 
since  Manly's  time,  in  Boston  bay,  to  this  hour. 
I  hope  the  boy  will  blow  her  up !  it  would  be  the 
death  of  poor  Richard  Barnstable,  to  see  her  in 
the  hands  of  the  English  !" 

"  I  know  of  one  way,"  said  Borroughcliffe, 
affecting  to  muse,  "  and  but  one,  that  will  certainly 
avert  the  prison-ship;  for,  on  second  thoughts, 
they  will  hardly  put  you  to  death." 

"  Name  it,  friend,"  cried  the  cockswain,  rising 
28* 


330  THE    PILOT. 

from  his  seat  in  evident  perturbation,  "  and  if  it 
lies  in  the  power  of  man,  it  shall  be  done." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  captain,  dropping  his  hand  fa 
miliarly  on  the  shoulder  of  the  other,  who  listened 
with  the  most  eager  attention,  "'tis  easily  done, 
and  no  dreadful  thing  in  itself;  you  are  used  to 
gunpowder,  and  know  its  smell  from  otto  of  roses  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,"  cried  the  impatient  old  seaman  ;  "  I 
have  had  it  flashing  under  my  nose  by  the  hour  ; 
what  then  ?" 

"  Why,  then,  what  I  have  to  propose  will  be 
nothing  to  a  man  like  you — you  found  the  beef 
wholesome,  and  the  grog  mellow  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  all  well  enough ;  but  what  is  that  to 
an  old  sailor  ?"  asked  the  cockswain,  unconsciously 
grasping  the  collar  of  BorroughclinVs  coat,  in  his 
agitation ;  "  what  then  ?" 

The  captain  manifested  no  displeasure  at  this 
unexpected  familiarity,  but  smiled,  with  suavity, 
as  he  unmasked  the  battery,  from  behind  which  he 
had  hitherto  carried  on  his  attacks. 

"  Why,  then,  you  have  only  to  serve  your 
King,  as  you  have  before  served  the  Congress — 
and  let  me  be  the  man  to  show  you  your  colours." 

The  cockswain  stared  at  the  speaker  intently, 
but  it  was  evident  he  did  not  clearly  comprehend 
the  nature  of  the  proposition,  and  the  captain  pur 
sued  the  subject — 

"  In  plain  English,  enlist  in  my  company,  my 
fine  fellow,  and  your  life  and  liberty  are  both  safe." 

Tom  did  not  laugh  aloud,  for  that  was  a  burst 
of  feeling  in  which  he  was  seldom  known  to  in 
dulge,  but  every  feature  of  his  weather-beaten 
visage  contracted  into  an  expression  of  bitter, 
ironical  contempt.  BorroughclifFe  felt  the  iron 
fingers,  that  still  grasped  his  collar,  gradually 


THE    PILOT.  331 

tightening  about  his  throat,  like  a  vice,  and,  as  the 
arm  slowly  contracted,  his  body  was  drawn,  by  a 
power  that  it  was  in  vain  to  resist,  close  to  that  of 
the  cockswain,  who,  when  their  faces  were  within 
a  foot  of  each  other,  gave  vent  to  his  emotions  in 
words: — »• 

"  A  messmate,  before  a  shipmate ;  a  shipmate, 
before  a  stranger;  a  stranger,  before  a  dog — but 
a  dog  before  a  soldier  !" 

As  Tom  concluded,  his  nervous  arm  was  sud 
denly  extended  to  the  utmost,  the  fingers  relin 
quishing  their  grasp  at  the  same  time,  and,  when 
Borroughcliffe  recovered  his  disordered  faculties, 
he  found  himself  in  a  distant  corner  of  the  apart 
ment,  prostrate  among  a  confused  pile  of  chairs, 
tables,  and  wearing  apparel.  In  endeavouring 
to  rise  from  this  humble  posture,  the  hand  of  the 
captain  fell  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  which  had 
been  included  in  the  confused  assemblage  of  arti 
cles  produced  by  his  overthrow. 

"  How  now,  scoundrel !"  he  cried,  baring  the 
glittering  weapon,  and  springing  on  his  feet ;  "  you 
must  be  taught  your  distance,  I  perceive." 

The  cockswain  seized  the  harpoon  which  lean 
ed  against  the  wall,  and  dropped  its  barbed  ex 
tremity  within  a  foot  of  the  breast  of  his  assail 
ant,  with  an  expression  of  the  eye  that  denoted 
the  danger  of  a  nearer  approach.  The  captain, 
however,  wanted  not  for  courage,  and,  stung  to 
the  quick  by  the  insult  he  had  received,  he  made 
a  desperate  parry,  and  attempted  to  pass  within 
the  point  of  the  novel  weapon  of  his  adversary. 
The  slight  shock  wa?  followed  by  a  sweeping 
whirl  of  the  harpoon,  and  Borroughcliffe  found 
himself  without  arms,  completely  at  the  mercy  of 
his  foe.  The  bloody  Intentions  of  Tom  vanish 
ed  with  his  success;  for,  laying  aside  his  wea- 


332  THE    PILOT. 

pon,  he  advanced  upon  his  antagonist,  and  seized 
him  with  an  open  palm.  One  more  struggle,  in 
which  the  captain  discovered  his  incompetency 
to  make  any  defence  against  the  strength  of  a 
man  who  managed  him  as  if  he  had  been  a  child, 
decided  the  matter.  When  the  captain  was  passive 
in  the  hands  of  his  foe,  the  cockswain  produced 
sundry  pieces  of  sennit,  marline,  and  ratlin-stuff,  - 
from  his  pockets,  which  appeared  to  contain  as 
great  a  variety  of  small  cordage  as  a  boatswain's 
Store-room,  and  proceeded  to  lash  the  arms  of  the 
conquered  soldier  to  the  posts  of  his  bed,  with  a 
coolness  that  had  not  been  disturbed  since  the  com 
mencement  of  hostilities,  a  silence  that  seemed  in 
flexible,  and  a  dexterity  that  none  but  a  seaman 
could  equal.  When  this  part  of  his  plan  was  ex 
ecuted,  Tom  paused  a  moment,  and  gazed  around 
him  as  if  in  quest  of  something.  The  naked 
sword  caught  his  eye,  and,  with  this  weapon  in  his 
hand,  he  deliberately  approached  his  captive, 
whose  alarm  prevented  his  observing,  that  the 
cockswain  had  snapped  the  blade  asunder  from 
the  handle,  and  that  he  had  already  encircled  the 
latter  with  marline. 

"  For  God's  sake,"  exclaimed   Borroughcliffe, 
u  murder  me  not  in  cold  blood  !" 

The  silver  hilt  entered  his  mouth  as  the  words 
issued  from  it,  and  the  captain  found,  while  the  line 
was  passed  and  repassed,  in  repeated  involutions 
across  the  back  of  his  neck,  that  he  was  in  a  con 
dition  to  which  he  often  subjected  his  own  men, 
when  unruly,  and  which  is  universally  called  be 
ing  "  gagged."  The  cockswain  now  appeared  to 
think  himself  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  a 
conqueror ;  for,  taking  the  light  in  his  hand,  he 
commenced  a  scrutiny  into  the  nature  and  quality 
of  the  worldly  effects  that  lay  at  his  mercy* 


THE    PILOT. 

Sundry  articles,  that  belonged  to  the  equipments 
of  a  soldier,  were  examined,  and  cast  aside  with 
great  contempt,  and  divers  garments  of  plainer 
exterior  were  rejected  as  unsuited  to  the  frame  of 
the  victor.  He,  however,  soon  encountered  two 
articles,  of  a  metal  that  is  universally  under 
stood.  But  uncertainty  as  to  their  use  appeared 
greatly  to  embarrass  him.  The  circular  prongs 
of  these  curiosities  were  applied  to  either  hand, 
to  the  wrists,  and  even  to  the  nose,  and  the  little 
wheels,  at  their  opposite  extremity,  were  turned 
and  examined  with  as  much  curiosity  and  care, 
as  a  savage  would  expend  on  a  watch,  until  the 
idea  seemed  to  cross  the  mind  of  the  honest  sea 
man,  that  they  formed  part  of  the  useless  trap 
pings  of  a  military  man,  and  he  cast  them  aside, 
also,  as  utterly  worthless.  Borroughcliffe,  who 
watched  every  movement  of  his  conqueror,  with 
a  good  humour  that  would  have  restored  perfect 
harmony  between  them,  could  he  but  have  ex 
pressed  half  what  he  felt,  witnessed  the  safety  of  a 
favourite  pair  of  spurs  with  much  pleasure,  though 
nearly  suffocated  by  the  mirth  that  was  unnaturally 
repressed.  At  length,  the  cockswain  found  a  pair 
of  handsomely  mounted  pistols,  a  sort  of  weapon 
with  which  he  seemed  quite  familiar.  They  were 
loaded,  and  the  knowledge  of  that  fact  appeared 
to  remind  Tom  of  the  necessity  of  departing, 
by  bringing  to  his  recollection  the  danger  of  his 
commander  and  the  Ariel.  He  thrust  the  wea 
pons  into  the  canvass  belt  that  encircled  his  body, 
and,  grasping  his  harpoon,  approached  the  bed, 
where  Borroughcliffe  was  seated  in  duresse. 

"  Harkye,  friend,"  said  the  cockswain,  u  may 
the  Lord  forgive  you,  as  I  do,  for  wishing  to 
make  a  soldier  of  a  sea-faring  man,  and  one  who 
has  followed  the  waters  since  he  was  an  hour  old, 


334  THE    PILOT. 

and  one  who  hopes  to  die  off  soundings,  and  to  be 
buried  in  brine.  I  wish  you  no  harm,  friend;  but 
you'll  have  to  keep  a  stopper  on  your  conver 
sation  till  such  time  as  some  of  your  messmates 
call  in  this  way,  which  I  hope  will  be  as  soon  after 
I  get  an  offing  as  may  be." 

With  these  amicable  wishes,  the  cockswain  de 
parted,  leaving  Borroughcliffe  the  light,  and  the 
undisturbed  possession  of  his  apartment,  though 
not  in  the  most  easy  or  the  most  enviable  situa 
tion  imaginable.  The  captain  heard  the  bolt  of 
his  lock  turn,  and  the  key  rattle  as  the  cock 
swain  withdrew  it  from  the  door — two  precau 
tionary  steps,  which  clearly  indicated  that  the  van 
quisher  deemed  It  prudent  to  secure  his  retreat, 
by  insuring  the  detention  of  the  vanquished,  for 
at  least  a  time. 


CHAPTEE 


M  Whilst  Vongoance,  in  the  lurid  air, 
Lifts  her  red  arm,  expos'd  and  bare  }— 
Who,  Fear,  this  ghastly  train  can  see, 
And  look  not  madly  wild,  liko  thee  !M 

CWlMft 


IT  is  certain  that  Tom  Coffin  had  devised  no 
settled  plan  of  operations,  when  he  issued  from 
the  apartment  of  Borrougncliffe,  if  we  except  a 
most  resolute  determination  to  make  the  best  of 
his  way  to  the  Ariel,  and  to  share  her  fate,  let  it 
be  either  to  sink  or  swim.  But  this  was  a  resolu 
tion  much  easier  formed  by  the  honest  seaman 
than  executed,  in  his  present  situation.  He  would 
have  found  it  less  difficult  to  extricate  a  vessel 
from  the  dangerous  shoals  of  the  "  Devil's  Grip," 
than  to  thread  the  mazes  of  the  labyrinth  of 
passages,  galleries,  and  apartments,  in  which  he 
found  himself  involved.  He  remembered,  as  he 
expressed  it  to  himself,  in  a  low  soliloquy,  "to 
have  run  into  a  narrow  passage  from  the  main 
channel,  but  whether  he  had  sheered  to  the  star 
board  or  larboard  hand,"  was  a  material  fact, 
that  had  entirely  escaped  his  memory.  Tom  was 
in  that  part  of  the  building  that  Colonel  Howard 
had  designated  as  the  "  cloisters,"  and  in  which, 
luckily  for  him,  he  was  but  little  liable  to  encounter 
any  foe ;  the  room  occupied  by  Borroughcliffe 
being  the  only  one  in  the  entire  wing  that  was 


336  THE    PILOT. 

not  exclusively  devoted  to  the  service  of  the 
ladies.  The  circumstance  of  the  soldier's  being 
permitted  to  invade  this  sanctuary,  was  owing  to 
the  necessity,  on  the  part  of  Colonel  Howard,  of 
placing  either  Griffith,  Manual,  or  the  recruiting 
officer,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  wards,  or  of  subjecting 
his  prisoners  to  a  treatment  that  the  veteran  would 
have  thought  unworthy  of  his  name  and  character. 
This  recent  change  in  the  quarters  of  Borrough- 
cliffe  operated  doubly  to  the  advantage  of  Tom, 
by  lessening  the  chance  of  the  speedy  release  of 
his  uneasy  captive,  as  well  as  by  diminishing  his 
own  danger.  Of  the  former  circumstance  he  was, 
however,  not  aware ;  and  the  consideration  of  the 
latter  was  a  sort  of  reflection  to  which  the  cock 
swain  was,  in  no  degree,  addicted. 

Following,  necessarily,  the  line  of  the  wall,  he 
soon  emerged  from  the  dark  and  narrow  passage 
in  which  he  had  first  found  himself,  and  entered 
the  principal  gallery,  that  communicated  with  all 
the  lower  apartments  of  that  wing,  as  well  as 
with  the  main  body  of  the  edifice.  An  opeii 
door,  through  which  a  strong  light  was  glaring, 
at  a  distant  end  of  this  gallery,  instantly  caught 
his  eyer  and  the  old  seaman  had  not  advanced 
many  steps  towards  it,  before  he  discovered  that 
he  was  approaching  the  very  room  which  had  so 
much  excited  his  curiosity,  and  by  the  identical 
passage  through  which  he  had  entered  the  Abbey. 
To  turn,  and  retrace  his  steps,  was  the  most  ob 
vious  course  for  any  man  to  take,  who  felt  anx 
ious  to  escape  ;  but  the  sounds  of  high  convivia 
lity,  bursting  from  the  cheerful  apartment,  among 
which  the  cockswain  thought  he  distinguished 
the  name  of  Griffith,  determined  Tom  to  advance 
and  reconnoitre  the  scene  more  closely.  The 
reader  will  anticipate  that  when  he  paused  in  the 


THE    PILOT.  337 

shadow,  the  doubting  old  seaman  stood  once  more 
neai  the  threshold  which  he  had  so  lately  crossed, 
when  conducted  to  the  room  of  Borroughcliffe. 
The  seat  of  that  gentleman  was  now  occupied  by 
Dillon,  and  Col.  Howard  had  resumed  his  wonted 
station  at  the  foot  of  the  table.  The  noise  was 
chiefly  made  by  the  latter,  who  had  evidently  been 
enjoying  a  more  minute  relation  of  the  means  by 
which  his  kinsman  had  entrapped  his  unwary 
enemy. 

"  A  noble  ruse  !"  cried  the  veteran,  as  Tom 
assumed  his  post,  in  ambush;  "  a  most  noble  and 
ingenious  ruse,  and  such  a  one  as  would  have 
baffled  Caesar  !  He  must  have  been  a  cunning 
dog,  that  Ca3sar ;  but  I  do  think,  Kit,  you  would 
have  been  too  much  for  him ;  hang  me,  if  J  don't 
think  you  would  have  puzzled  Wolfe  himself,  had 
you  held  Quebec,  instead  of  Montcalm  !  Ah, 
boy,  we  want  you  in  the  colonies,  with  the  ermine 
over  your  shoulders  ;  such  men  as  you,  cousin 
Christopher,  are  sadly,  sadly  wanted  there  to  de 
fend  his  majesty's  rights." 

"  Indeed,  dear  sir,  your  partiality  gives  me 
credit  for  qualities  I  do  not  possess,"  said  Dillon, 
dropping  his  eyes,  perhaps  with  a  feeling  of  con 
scious  unworthiness,  but  with  an  air  of  much  hu 
mility  ;  "  the  little  justifiable  artifice — " 

"  Ay  !  there  lies  the  beauty  of  the  transaction," 
interrupted  the  colonel,  shoving  the  bottle  from 
him,  with  the  free,  open  air  of  a  man  who  never 
harboured  disguise ;  "  you  told  no  lie ;  no  mean 
deception,  that  any  dog,  however  base  and  un 
worthy,  might  invent ;  but  you  practised  a  neat, 
a  military,  a — a — yes,  a  classical  deception  on 
your  enemy,  a  classical  deception,  that  is  the 
very  term  for  it!  such  a  deception  as  Pompey, 
or  Mark  Antony,  or — or — you  know  those  old 
29 


338  THE    PILOT. 

fellows'  names  better  than  I  do,  Kit;  but  name 
the  cleverest  fellow  that  ever  lived  in  Greece  or 
Rome,  and  I  shall  say  he  is  a  dunce,  compared  to 
you.  'Twas  a  real  Spartan  trick,  both  simple  and 
honest." 

It  was  extremely  fortunate  for  Dillon,  that  the 
animation  of  his  aged  kinsman  kept  his  head  and 
body  in  such  constant  motion,  during  this  apos 
trophe,  as  to  intercept  the  aim  that  the  cock 
swain  was  deliberately  taking  at  his  head  with 
one  of  Borroughcliffe's  pistols;  and  perhaps  the 
sense  of  shame  which  induced  him  to  sink  his  face 
on  his  hands,  was  another  means  of  saving  his  life, 
by  giving  the  indignant  old  seaman  time  for  re 
flection. 

"  But  you  have  not  spoken  of  the  ladies,"  said 
Dillon,  after  a  moment's  pause ;  "  I  should  hope, 
they  have  borne  the  alarm  of  the  day  like  kins 
women  of  the  family  of  Howard." 

The  colonel  glanced  his  eyes  around  him,  as  if  to 
assure  himself  they  were  alone,  and  dropped  his 
voice,  as  he  answered — 

"  Ah,  Kit !  they  have  come  to,  since  this  rebel 
scoundrel,  Griffith,  has  been  brought  into  the 
Abbey ;  we  were  favoured  with  the  company  of 
even  Miss  Howard,  in  the  dining-room,  to-day. 
There  was  a  good  deal  of  c  dear  uncleing,'  and 
1  fears  that  my  life  might  be  exposed  by  the  quar 
rels  and  skirmishes  of  these  desperadoes  who 
have  landed ;'  as  if  an  old  fellow,  who  served 
through  the  whole  war,  from  '56  to  '63,  was  afraid 
to  let  his  nose  smell  gunpowder  any  more  than  if 
it  were  snuff?  But  it  will  be  a  hard  matter  to 
wheedle  an  old  soldier  out  of  his  allegiance  !  This 
Griffith  goes  to  the  Tower,  at  least,  Mr.  Dillon." 

"  It  would  be  advisable  to  commit  his  person  to 
*he  civil  authority,  without  delay." 


THK    PILOT.  339 

"  To  the  constable  of  the  Tower,  the  Earl  Corn- 
wallis,  a  good  and  loyal  nobleman,  who  is,  at 
this  moment,  fighting  the  rebels  in  my  own  native 
province,  Christopher,"  interrupted  the  colonel; 
"  that  will  be  wrhat  I  call  retributive  justice  ; 
but,"  continued  the  veteran,  rising  with  an  air  of 
gentlemanly  dignity,  "  it  will  not  do  to  permit 
even  the  constable  of  the  Tower  of  London  to 
surpass  the  master  of  St.  Ruth  in  hospitality  and 
kindness  to  his  prisoners.  I  have  ordered  suitable 
refreshments  to  their  apartments,  and  it  is  incum 
bent  on  me  to  see  that  my  commands  have  been 
properly  obeyed.  Arrangements  must  also  be 
made  for  the  reception  of  this  Captain  Barnstable, 
whr  will,  doubtless,  soon  be  here." 

"  Withm  the  hour,  at  farthest,"  said  Dillon, 
looking  uneasily  at  his  watch. 

"  We  must  be  stirring,  boy,"  continued  the 
colonel,  moving  towards  the  door  that  led  to  the 
apartments  of  his  prisoners ;  "  but  there  is  a 
courtesy  due  to  the  ladies,  as  well  as  to  those  un 
fortunate  violators  of  the  laws — go,  Christopher, 
convey  my  kindest  wishes  to  Cecilia ;  she  don't 
deserve  them,  the  obstinate  vixen,  but  then  she  is- 
my  brother  Harry's  child  !  and  while  there,  you 
arch  dog,  plead  your  own  cause.  Mark  Antony 
was  a  fool  to  you  at  a  i  ruse,'  and  yet  Mark  was 
one  of  your  successful  suitors,  too ;  there  was  that 
Queen  of  the  Pyramids " 

The  door  closed  on  the  excited  veteran,  at  these 
words,  and  Dillon  was  left  standing  by  himself, 
at  the  side  of  the  table,  musing,  as  if  in  doubt, 
whether  to  venture  on  the  step  that  his  kinsman 
had  proposed,  or  not. 

The  greater  part  of  the  preceding  discourse  was 
unintelligible  to  the  cockswain,  who  had  waited  its 
termination  with  extraordinary  patience,  in  hopes 


340  THE    PILOT. 

he  might  obtain  some  information  that  he  could 
render  of  service  to  the  captives.  Before  he  had 
time  to  decide  on  what  was  now  best  for  him  to 
do,  Dillon  suddenly  determined  to  venture  him 
self  in  the  cloisters  ;  and,  swallowing  a  couple  of 
glasses  of  wine  in  a  breath,  he  passed  the  hesi 
tating  cockswain,  who.  was  concealed  by  the  open 
ing  door,  so  closely  as  to  brush  his  person,  and 
moved  down  the  gallery  with  those  rapid  strides, 
which  men,  who  act  under  the  impulse  of  forced 
resolutions,  are  very  apt  to  assume,  as  if  to  con 
ceal  their  weakness  from  themselves. — Tom  hesi 
tated  no  longer,  but  aiding  the  impulse  given  to 
the  door  by  Dillon,  as  he  passed,  so  as  to  darken 
the  passage,  he  followed  the  sounds  of  the  other's 
footsteps,  while  he  trod,  in  the  manner  already 
described,  the  stone  pavement  of  the  gallery. 
Dillon  paused  an  instant  at  the  turning  that  led  to 
the  room  of  Borroughcliffe,  but  whether  irresolute 
which  way  to  urge  his  steps,  or  listening  to  the 
incautious  and  heavy  tread  of  the  cockswain,  is 
not  known  ;  if  the  latter,  he  mistook  them  for  the 
echoes  of  his  own  footsteps,  and  moved  forward 
again  without  making  any  discovery. 

The  light  tap  which  Dillon  gave  on  the  door 
of  the  withdrawing-room  of  the  cloisters,  was 
answered  by  the  soft  voice  of  Cecilia  Howard 
herself,  who  bid  the  applicant  enter.  There  was 
a  slight  confusion  evident  in  the  manner  of  the 
gentleman  as  he  complied  with  the  bidding,  and  in 
its  hesitancy,  the  door  was,  for  an  instant,  neglect 
ed. 

"  J  come,  Miss  Howard,"  said  Dillon,  "  by  the 
commands  of  your  uncle,  and,  permit  me  to  add, 
by  my  own— - 

"  May  Heaven  shield  us  !"  exclaimed  Cecilia, 
clasping  her  hands  in  affright,  and  rising  irivolun 


THE    PILOT.  341 

tarily  from  her  couch  ;  "  are  we,  too,  to  be  impri 
soned  and  murdered  ?" 

"  Surely  Miss  Howard  will  not  impute  to  me" 
• — Dillon  paused,  observing  that  the  wild  Jooks- 
not  only  of  Cecilia,  but  of  Katherine  and  AJice 
Dunscombe,  also,  were  directed  at  some  other  ob 
ject,  and  turning,  to  his  manifest  terror  he  beheld 
the  gigantic  frame  of  the  cockswain,  surmounted 
by  an  iron  visage  fixed  in  settled  hostility,  in  pos 
session  of  the  only  passage  from  the  apartment. 

"  If  there's  murder  to  be  done,"  said  Torn,  af 
ter  surveying  the  astonished  group  with  a  stern 
eye,  "  it's  as  likely  this  here  liar  will  be  the  one 
to  do  it,  as  another ;  but  you  have  nothing  to  fear 
from  a  man  who  has  followed  the  seas  too  long, 
and  has  grappled  with  too  many  monsters,  both 
fish  and  flesh,  not  to  know  how  to  treat  a  help 
less  woman.  None,  who  know  him,  will  say  that 
Thomas  Coffin  ever  used  uncivil  language,  or  un- 
seaman-like  conduct,  to  any  of  his  mother's  kind." 

"  Coffin  !"  exclaimed  Katherine,  advancing  with 
a  more  confident  air,  from  the  corner,  into  which 
terror  had  driven  her  with  her  companions. 

"  Ay,  Coffin,"  continued  the  old  sailor,  his 
grim  features  gradually  relaxing,  as  he  gazed  on 
her  bright  looks ;  "  'tis  a  solemn  word,  but  it's  a 
name  that  passes  over  the  shoals,  among  the  islands, 
and  along  the  cape,  oftener  than  any  other.  My 
father  was  a  Coffin,  and  my  mother  was  a  Joy ; 
and  the  two  names  can  count  moKe  flukes  than 
all  the  rest  in  the  island  together ;  though  the 
Worths,  and  the  Gar'ners,  and  the  Swaines,  dart 
better  harpoons,  and  set  truer  lances,  than  any  men 
who  come  from  the  weather-side  of  the  Atlantic." 

Katherine  listened  to  this  digression  in  honour 
of  the  whalers  of  Nantucket,  with  marked  com- 
29  * 


342  THE    PILOT. 

placency,  and,  when  he  concluded,  she  repeated, 
slowly — 

"  Coffin !  this,  then,  is  long  Tom  !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  long  Tom,  and  no  sham  in  the  name 
either,"  returned  the  cockswain,  suffering  the 
stern  indignation  that  had  lowered  around  his 
hard  visage,  to  relax  into  a  low  laugh,  as  he  gazed 
on  her  animated  features  ;  "  the  Lord  bless  your 
smiling  face  and  bright  black  eyes,  young  madam  ! 
you  have  heard  of  old  long  Tom,  then  ?  most 
likely,  'twas  something  about  the  blow  he  strikes 
at  the  fish — ah  !  I'm  old  and  Pm  stiff,  now,  young 
madam,  but,  afore  I  was  nineteen,  I  stood  at  the 
head  of  the  dance,  at  a  ballon  the  cape,  and  that 
with  a  partner  almost  as  handsome  as  yourself — 
ay!  and  this  was  after  I  had  three  broad  flukes 
logg'd  against  my  name." 

"  No,"  said  Katherine,  advancing  in  her  eager 
ness  a  step  or  two  nigher  to  the  old  tar,  her  cheeks 
flushing  while  she  spoke,  a  I  had  heard  of  you  as 
an  instructer  in  a  seaman's  duty,  as  the  faithful 
cockswain,  nay,  I  may  say,  as  the  devoted  com 
panion  and  friend  of  Mr.  Richard  Barnstable — but, 
perhaps,  you  come  now  as  the  bearer  of  some  mes 
sage  or  letter  from  that  gentleman." 

The  sound  of  his  commander's  name  sudden 
ly  revived  the  recollection  of  Coffin,  and  with  it, 
all  the  fierce  sternness  of  his  manner  returned. 
Bending  his  eyes  keenly  on  the  cowering  form  of 
Dillon,  he  said,  in  those  deep,  harsh  tones,  that 
seem  peculiar  to  men,  who  have  braved  the  ele 
ments,  until  they  appear  to  have  imbibed  some  of 
their  roughest  qualities — 

"  Liar  !  how  now?  what  brought  old  Tom 
Coffin  into  these  shoals  and  narrow  channels  ? 
was  it  a  letter?  ha!  but  by 'the  Lord  that  maketh 


THE    PILOT.  343 

the  winds  to  blow,  and  teacheth  the  lost  mariner 
how  to  steer  over  the  wide  waters,  you  shall 
sleep  this  night,  villain,  on  the  planks  of  the 
Ariel ;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  that  beautiful 
piece  of  handicraft  is  to  sink  at  her  moorings, 
like  a  worthless  hulk,  ye  shall  still  sleep  in  her; 
ay,  and  a  sleep  that  shall  not  end.  till  they  call 
all  hands,  to  foot  up  the  day's- work  of  this  life,  at 
the  close  of  man's  longest  voyage." 

The  extraordinary  vehemence,  the  language, 
the  attitude  of  the  old  seaman,  commanding  in  its 
energy,  and  the  honest  indignation  that  shone 
in  every  look  of  his  keen  eyes,  together  with  the 
nature  of  the  address,  and  its  paralyzing  effect  on 
Dillon,  who  quailed  before  it  like  the  stricken 
deer,  united  to  keep  the  female  listeners,  for  many 
moments,  silent  through  amazement.  During 
this  brief  period,  Tom  advanced  upon  his  nerve 
less  victim,  and  lashing  his  arms  together  behind 
his  back,  he  fastened  him,  by  a  strong  cord,  to 
the  broad  canvass  belt  that  he  constantly  wore 
around  his  own  body,  leaving  to  himself  by  this 
arrangement,  the  free  use  of  his  arms  and  weapons 
of  offence,  wrhile  he  secured  his  captive. 

"  Surely,"  said  Cecilia,  recovering  her  recol 
lection  the  first  of  the  astonished  group,  "  Mr. 
Barnstable  has  not  commissioned  you  to  offer 
this  violence  to  my  uncle's  kinsman,  under  the 
roof  of  Colonel  Howard  ? — Miss  Plowden,  your 
friend  has  strangely  forgotten  himself  in  this  trans 
action,  if  this  man  acts  in  obedience  to  his  order !" 

"  My  friend,  my  cousin  Howard,"  returned 
Katherine,  "  would  nf  ver  commission  his  cock 
swain,  or  any  one,  to  do  an  unworthy  deed. 
Speak,  honest  sailor;  why  do  you  commit  this 
outrage  on  the  worthy  Mr.  Dillon,  Colonel  How- 


344  THE    PILOT. 

ard's  kinsman,  and  a  cupboard  cousin  of  St.  Ruth's 
Abbey  ?» 

"  Nay,  Katherine — " 

"  Nay,  Cecilia,  be  patient,  and  let  the  stranger 
have  utterance  ;  he  may  solve  the  difficulty  alto 
gether." 

The  cockswain,  understanding  that  an  expla 
nation  was  expected  from  his  lips,  addressed  him 
self  to  the  task  with  an  energy  suitable  both  to 
the  subject  and  to  his  own  feelings.  In  a  very 
few  words,  though  a  little  obscured  by  his  pecu 
liar  diction,  he  made  his  listeners  understand  the 
confidence  that  Barnstable  had  reposed  in  Dillon, 
and  the  treachery  of  the  latter.  They  heard  him 
with  increased  astonishment,  and  Cecilia  hardly  al 
lowed  him  time  to  conclude,  before  she  exclaimed — 

"  And  did  Colonel  Howard,  could  Colonel  How 
ard  listen  to  this  treacherous  project !" 

"  Ay,  they  spliced  it  together  among  them,"  re 
turned  Tom  ;  "  though  one  part  of  this  cruise  will 
turn  out  but  badly." 

"  Even  Borroughcliffe,  cold  and  hardened  as  he 
appears  to  be  by  habit,  would  spurn  at  such  dis 
honour,"  added  Miss  Howard. 

"But,  Mr.  Barnstable?"  at  length  Katherine 
succeeded  in  saying,  when  her  feelings  permitted 
her  utterance,  "  said  you  not,  that  soldiers  were  in 
quest  of  him  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  young  madam,"  the  cockswain  repli 
ed,  smiling  with  grim  ferocity,  "  they  are  in 
chase,  but  he  has  shifted  his  anchorage  ;  and  even 
if  they  should  find  him,  his  long  pikes  would 
make  short  work  of  a  dozen  red-coats.  The 
Lord  of  tempests  and  calms  Have  mercy,  though, 
on  the  schooner!  Ah,  young  madam,  she  is  as 
lovely  to  the  eyes  of  an  old  seafaring  man,  as  any 
of  your  kind  can  be  to  human  nature  !" 


THE    PILOT.  345 

"  But  why  this  delay  ? — away  then,  honest  Tom, 
and  reveal  the  treachery  to  your  commander ;  you 
may  not  yet  be  too  late — why  delay  a  moment  ?" 

"  The  ship  tarries  for  want  of  a  pilot — I  could 
carry  three  fathom  over  the  shoals  of  Nantucket, 
the  darkest  night  that  ever  shut  the  windows  of 
heaven,  but  I  should  be  likely  to  run  upon  break 
ers  in  this  navigation.  As  k  was,  I  was  near  get 
ting  into  company  that  I  should  have  had  to  fight 
my  way  out  of." 

"If  that  be  all,  follow  me,"  cried  the  ardent 
Katherine  ;  "  I  \vill  conduct  you  to  a  path  that 
leads  to  the  ocean,  without  approaching  the  sen 
tinels." 

Until  this  moment,  Dillon  had  entertained  a 
secret  expectation  of  a  rescue,  but  when  he  heard 
this  proposal,  he  felt  his  blood  retreating  to  his 
heart,  from  every  part  of  his  agitated  frame,  and 
his  last  hope  seemed  wrested  from  him.  Raising 
himself  from  the  abject,  shrinking  attitude,  in 
which  both  shame  and  dread  had  conspired  to  keep 
him  as  though  he  had  been  fettered  to  the  spot,  he 
approached  Cecilia,  and  cried,  in  tones  of  horror — 

"  Do  not,  do  not  consent,  Miss  Howard,  to 
abandon  me  to  the  fury  of  this  man  !  Your  uncle, 
your  honourable  uncle,  even  now,  applauded  and 
united  with  me  in  my  enterprise,  which  is  no  more 
than  a  common  artifice  in  war." 

"  My  uncle  would  unite,  Mr.  Dillon,  in  no  pro 
ject  of  deliberate  treachery,  like  this,"  said  Ce 
cilia,  coldly. 

"  He  did,  I  swear  by—" 

"  Liar!"  interrupted  the  deep  tones  of  the 
cockswain. 

Dillon  shivered  with  agony  and  terror,  while 
the  sounds  of  this  appalling  voice  sunk  into  his  in 
most  soul  ;  but  as  the  gloom  of  the  night,  the 


346  THE    PILOT. 

secret  ravines  of  the  cliffs,  and  the  turbulence  of 
the  ocean,  flashed  across  his  imagination,  he  again 
yielded  to  a  dread  of  the  horrors  to  which  he 
should  be  exposed,  in  encountering  them  at  the 
mercy  of  his  powerful  enemy,  and  he  continued 
his  solicitations — 

"  Hear  me,  once  more  hear  me — Miss  Howard, 
I  beseech  you,  hear  me  !  Am  I  not  of  your  own 
blood  and  country  ?  will  you  see  me  abandoned 
to  the  wild,  merciless,  malignant  fury  of  this  man, 
who  will  transfix  me  with  that — oh,  God !  if  you 
had  but  seen  the  sight  I  beheld  in  the  Alacrity ! 
— hear  me,  Miss  Howard,  for  the  love  you  bear 
your  Maker,  intercede  for  me  !  Mr.  Griffith  shall 
be  released — " 

"  Liar  !"  again  interrupted  the  cockswain. 

"  What  promises  he  ?"  asked  Cecilia,  turning  her 
averted  face  once  more  at  the  miserable  captive. 

"  Nothing  that  will  be  fulfilled,"  said  Katherine  ; 
tc  follow,  honest  Tom,  and  I,  at  least,  will  conduct 
you  in  good  faith." 

"  Cruel,  obdurate  Miss  Plowden ;  gentle,  kind 
Miss  Alice,  you  will  not  refuse  to  raise  your  voice 
in  my  favour ;  your  heart  is  not  hardened  by  any 
imaginary  dangers  to  those  you  love." 

"  Nay,  address  not  me,"  said  Alice,  bending 
her  meek  eyes  to  the  floor  ;  "  I  trust  your  life  is 
in  no  danger,  and  I  pray  that  he  who  has  the  power, 
will  have  the  mercy,  to  see  you  unharmed." 

"  Awray,"  said  Tom,  grasping  the  collar  of  the 
helpless  Dillon,  and  rather  carrying  than  leading 
him  into  the  gallery:  "if  a  soun<l,  one  quarter 
as  loud  as  a  young  porpoise  makes,  when  he 
draws  his  first  breath,  comes  from  you,  villain, 
you  shall  see  the  sight  of  the  Alacrity  over  again. 
My  harpoon  keeps  its  edge  well,  and  the  old  arm 
can  yet  drive  it  to  the  seizing." 


THE    PILOT.  347 

This  menace  effectually  silenced  even  the  hard, 
perturbed  breathings  0f  the  captive,  who,  with 
his  conductor,  followed  the  light  steps  of  Kathe- 
vine  through  some  of  the  secret  mazes  of  the 
building,  until,  in  a  few  minutes,  they  issued 
through  a  small  door,  into  the  open  air.  Without 
pausing  to  deliberate,  Miss  Plowden  led  the 
cockswain  through  the  grounds,  to  a  different 
wicket  from  the  one  by  which  he  had  entered  the 
paddock,  and  pointing  to  the  path,  which  might 
be  dimly  traced  along  the  faded  herbage,  she  bad 
God  bless  him,  in  a  voice  that  discovered  her  in 
terest  in  his  safety,  and  vanished  from  his  sight, 
like  an  aerial  being. 

Tom  needed  no  incentive  to  his  speed,  now 
that  his  course  lay  so  plainly  before  him,  but, 
loosening  his  pistols  in  his  belt,  and  poising  his 
harpoon,  he  crossed  the  fields  at  a  gait  that  com 
pelled  his  companion  to  exert  his  utmost  powers, 
in  the  way  of  walking,  to  equal.  Once  or  twice, 
Dillon  ventured  to  utter  a  word  or  two,  but  a 
stern  "  silence"  from  the  cockswain,  warned  him 
to  cease,  until,  perceiving  that  they  were  ap 
proaching  the  cliffs,  he  made  a  final  effort  to  ob 
tain  his  liberty,  by  hurriedly  promising  a  large 
bribe.  The  cockswain  made  no  reply,  and  the 
captive  was  secretly  hoping  that  his  scheme  was 
producing  its  wonted  effects,  when  he  unexpectedly 
felt  the  keen  cold  edge  of  the  barbed  iron  of  the 
harpoon  pressing  against  his  breast,  through  the 
opening  of  his  ruffles,  and  even  raising  the  skin. 

"  Liar,"  said  Tom,  "  another  word,  and  I'll 
drive  it  through  your  heart !" 

From  that  moment,  Dillon  was  as  silent  as  the 
grave.  They  reached  the  edge  of  the  cliffs,  with 
out  encountering  the  party  that  had  been  sent  in 
quest  of  Barnstable,  and  at  a  point  near  where 


348  THE    PILOT. 

they  bad  landed.  The  old  seaman  paused  an 
instant  on  the  verge  of  the  precipice,  and  cast  his 
experienced  eyes  along  the  wide  expanse  of  watei 
that  lay  before  him.  The  sea  was  no  longer  sleep 
ing,  but  already  in  heavy  motion,  and  rolling 
its  surly  waves  against  the  base  of  the  rocks 
on  which  he  stood,  scattering  their  white  crests 
high  in  foam.  The  cockswain,  after  bending 
his  looks  along  the  whole  line  of  the  eastern  ho 
rizon,  gave  utterance  to  a  low  and  stifled  groan, 
and  then  striking  the  staff  of  his  harpoon  vio 
lently  against  the  earth,  he  pursued  his  way  along 
the  very  edge  of  the  cliffs,  muttering  certain 
dreadful  denunciations,  which  the  conscience  of 
his  appalled  listener  did  not  fail  to  apply  to  him 
self.  It  appeared  to  the  latter,  that  his  angry 
and  excited  leader  sought  the  giddy  verge  of  the  pre 
cipice  with  a  sort  of  wanton  recklessness,  so  dai- 
ing  were  the  steps  that  he  took  along  its  brow,  not- 
withstandinp;  .the  darkness  of  the  hour,  and  the  vio 
lence  of  the  blasts  that  occasionally  rushed  by  them, 
leaving  behind  a  kind  of  reaction,  that  more  than 
once  brought  the  life  of  the  manacled  captive  in 
imminent  jeopardy.  But  it  would  seem,  the  wary 
cockswain  had  a  motive  for  this,  apparently,  incon 
siderate  desperation.  When  they  had  made  good 
quite  half  the  distance  between  the  point  where 
Barnstable  had  landed,  and  that  where  he  had 
appointed  to  meet  his  cockswain,  the  sounds  of 
voices  were  brought  indistinctly  to  their  ears,  ir? 
one  of  the  momentary  pauses  of  the  rushing  winds 
and  caused  the  cockswain  to  make  a  dead  stand 
in  his  progress.  He  listened  intently  for  a  single 
minute,  when  his  resolution  appeared  to  be  taken. 
He  turned  to  Dillon,  and  spoke ;  but  though  his 
voice  was  suppressed  and  low,  it  was  deep  and 
resolute. 


THE    PILOT.  349 

"  One  word,  and  you  die ;  over  the  cliffs '  You 
must  take  a  seaman's  ladder ;  there  is  footing  on 
the  rocks,  and  crags  for  your  hands.  Over  the 
cliff,  I  bid  ye,  or  I'll  cast  ye  into  the  sea,  as  I  would 
a  dead  enemy !" 

"  Mercy,  mercy !"  implored  Dillon ;  "  I  could 
not  do  it  in  the  day ;  by  this  light  I  shall  surely 
perish." 

"  Over  with  ye  !"  said  Tom,  "  or—" 

Dillon  waited  for  no  more,  but  descended,  with 
trembling  steps,  the  dangerous  precipice  which  lay 
before  him.  He  was  followed  by  the  cockswain, 
with  a  haste  that  unavoidably  dislodged  his  cap 
tive  from  the  trembling  stand  he  had  taken  on  the 
shelf  of  a  rock,  who,  to  his  increased  horror,  found 
himself  dangling  in  the  air,  his  body  impending 
over  the  sulien  surf,  that  was  tumbling  in,  with 
violence,  upon  the  rocks  beneath  him.  An  invo 
luntary  shriek  burst  from  Dillon,  as  he  felt  his 
person  thrust  from  the  narrow  shelf,  and  his  cry 
sounded  amidst  the  tempest,  like  the  screechings 
of  the  spirit  of  the  storm. 

"  Another  such  call,  and  I  cut  your  tow-line, 
villain,"  said  the  determined  seaman,  "  when  no 
thing  short  of  eternity  will  bring  you  up." 

The  sounds  of  footsteps  and  voices  were  now 
distinctly  audible,  and  presently  a  party  of  armed 
men  appeared  on  the  edges  of  the  rocks,  directly 
above  them. 

"  It  was  a  human  voice,"  said  one  of  them,  "  and 
like  a  man  in  distress." 

u  It  cannot  be  the  men  we  are  sent  in  search  of," 
returned  Sergeant  Drill ;  "  for  no  watchword  that 
I  ever  heard  sounded  like  that  cry." 

"  They  say,  that  such  cries  are  often  heard,  in 
storms,  along  this  coast,"  said  a  voice,  that  wras 
uttered  with  less  of  military  confidence  than  the 
30 


350  THE    PILOT. 

two  others;  "  and  they  are  thought  to  come  froic 
drowned  seamen." 

A  feeble  laugh  arose  among  the  listeners,  and 
one  or  two  forced  jokes  were  made,  at  the  ex 
pense  of  their  superstitious  comrade ;  but  the 
scene  did  not  fail  to  produce  its  effect  on  even 
the  most  sturdy  among  the  unbelievers  in  the 
marvellous ;  for,  after  a  few  more  similar  remarks, 
the  whole  party  retired  from  the  cliffs,  at  a  pace 
that  might  have  been  accelerated  by  the  nature  of 
their  discourse.  The  cockswain,  who  had  stood, 
all  this  time,  firm  as  the  rock  which  supported 
him,  bearing  up  not  only  his  own  weight,  but  tke 
person  of  Dillon  also,  raised  his  head  above  the 
brow  of  the  precipice,  as  they  withdrew  to  recon 
noitre,  and  then  drawing  up  the  nearly  insensible 
captive,  and  placing  him  in  safety  on  the  bank,  he 
followed  himself.  Not  a  moment  was  wasted  in 
unnecessary  explanations,  but  Dillon  found  himself 
again  urged  forward,  with  the  same  velocity  as 
before.  In  a  few  minutes  they  gained  the  desired 
ravine,  down  which  Tom  plunged,  with  a  seaman's 
nerve,  dragging  his  prisoner  after  him,  and  direct 
ly  they  stood  where  the  waves  rose  to  their  feet,  as 
they  ilowed  far  and  foaming  across  the  sands. — 
The  cockswain  stooped  so  low  as  to  bring  the 
crests  of  the  billows  in  a  line  with  the  horizon, 
when  he  discovered  the  dark  boat  playing  in  the 
outer  edge  of  the  surf. 

"  What  hoa  !  Ariels  there !"  shouted  Tom,  in 
a  voice  that  the  growing  tempest  carried  to  the 
ears  of  the  retreating  soldiers,  who  quickened 
their  footsteps,  as  they  listened  to  sounds  which 
their  fears  taught  them  to  believe  unnatural. 

"  Who  hails  ?"  cried  the  well-known  voice  of 
Barnstable. 

"  Once  your  master,  now  your  servant,"  an. 


PILOT  351 

swered  the  cockswain,  with  a  watch-word  of  his 
own  invention. 

"  'Tis  he,"  returned  the  lieutenant ;  "  veer 
away,  boys,  veer  away.  You  must  wade  into  the 
surf> 

Tom  caught  Dillon  in  his  arms,  and  throwing 
him,  like  a  cork,  across  his  shoulder,  he  dashed 
into  the  streak  of  foam  that  was  bearing  the  boat 
on  its  crest,  and  before  his  companion  had  time 
for  remonstrance  or  entreaty,  he  found  himself 
once  more  by  the  side  of  Barnstable. 

"  Who  have  we  here :"  asked  the  lieutenant ; 
"  this  is  not  Griffith  !" 

"  Haul  out  and  weigh  your  grapnel,"  said  the 
excited  cockswain  ;  "  and  then,  boys,  if  you  love 
the  Ariel,  pull  while  the  life  and  the  will  is  left  in 
you." 

Barnstable  knew  his  man,  and  not  another 
question  was  asked,  until  the  boat  was  without  the 
breakers,  now  skimming  the  rounded  summits  of 
the  waves,  or  settling  info  the  hollows  of  the  seas, 
bat  always  cutting  the  waters  asunder,  as  she 
urged  her  course,  with  amazing  velocity,  towards 
the  haven  where  the  schooner  had  been  left  at 
anchor.  Then,  in  a  few,  but  bitter  sentences, 
the  cockswain  explained  to  his  commander  the 
treachery  of  Dillon,  and  the  danger  of  the  schoon 
er. 

"  The  soldiers  are  slow  at  a  night  muster," 
Tom  concluded,  "  and  from  what  I  overheard, 
the  express  will  have  to  make  a  crooked  course, 
to  double  the  head  of  the  bay,  so  that  but  for 
this  north-easter,  we  might  weather  upon  them 
yet ;  but  it's  a  matter  that  lies  altogether  in  the 
will  of  Providence.  Pull,  my  hearties,  pull — 
every  thing  depends  on  your  oars  to-night." 

Barnstable  listened  in  deep  silence  to  this  uuex- 


352  THE    PILOT. 

pected  narration,  which  sounded  in  the  ears  of 
Dillon  like  his  funeral  knell.  At  length,  the  sup 
pressed  voice  of  the  lieutenant  was  heard,  also,  ut 
tering — 

"  Wretch  !  if  I  should  cast  you  into  the  sea,  as 
food  for  the  fishes,  who  could  blame  me  ?  But  if 
my  schooner  epes  to  the  bottom,  she  shall  prove 
yrou  coffin !" 


CHAPTEE  XXIII. 


w  Had  I  been  any  god  of  power,  I  would 
Hava  sunk  the  sea  within  the  earth,  ere 
It  should  the  good  ship  so  have  swallowed." 

Tempest. 

THE  arms  of  Dillon  were  released  from  their 
onfinement  by  the  cockswain,  as  a  measure  of 
humane  caution  against  accidents,  when  they  en 
tered  the  surf;  and  the  captive  now  availed  him 
self  of  the  circumstance  to  bury  his  features  in 
the  folds  of  his  attire,  when  he  brooded  over  the 
events  of  the  last  few  hours  with  that  mixture  of 
malignant  passion  and  pusillanimous  dread  of  the 
future,  that  formed  the  chief  ingredients  in  his 
character.  From  this  state  of  apparent  quie 
tude,  neither  Barnstable  nor  Tom  seemed  dispos 
ed  to  rouse  him  by  their  remarks,  for  both  were 
too  much  engaged  with  their  own  gloomy  forebo 
dings,  to  indulge  in  any  unnecessary  words.  An 
occasional  ejaculation  from  the  former,  as  if  to 
propitiate  the  spirit  of  the  storm,  as  he  gazed  on 
the  troubled  appearance  of  the  elements,  or  a 
cheering  cry  from  the  latter,  to  animate  his  crew, 
were  alone  heard  amid  the  sullen  roaring  of  the 
waters,  and  the  mournful  whistling  of  the  winds, 
that  swept  heavily  across  the  broad  waste  of  the 
German  Ocean.  There  might  have  been  an  hour 
consumed  thus,  in  a  vigorous  struggle  oetween 
the  seamen  and  the  growing  billows,  when  the  boat 
doubled  the  northern  headland  of  the  desired 
30* 


354  THE    PILOT. 

haven,  and  shot,  at  once,  from  its  boisterous  pas 
sage  along  the  margin  of  the  breakers,  into  the 
placid  waters  of  the  sequestered  bay.  The  pase- 
ing  blasts  were  still  heard  rushing  above  the  high 
lands  that  surrounded,  and,  in  fact,  formed  the 
estuary,  but  the  profound  stillness  of  deep  night 
pervaded  the  secret  recesses,  along  the  unruffled 
surface  of  its  waters.  The  shadows  of  the  hills 
seemed  to  have  accumulated,  like  a  mass  .of 
gloom,  in  the  centre  of  the  basin,  and  though 
every  eye  involuntarily  turned  to  search,  it  was 
in  vain  that  the  anxious  seamen  endeavoured  to 
discover  their  little  vessel  through  its  density. 
While  the  boat  glided  into  this  quiet  scene,  Barn- 
stable  anxiously  observed — 

"  Every  thing  is  as  still  as  death." 
"  God  send  it  is  not  the  stillness  of  death !" 
ejaculated  the  cockswain.  "  Here,  here,"  he  con 
tinued,  speaking  in  a  lower  tone,  as  if  fearful  of 
being  overheard,  "here  she  lies,  sir,  more  to- 
port  ;  look  into  the  streak  of  clear  sky  above  the 
marsh,  on  the  starboard  hand  of  the  wood,  there  ; 
that  long  black  line  is  her  main-top-mast  ;  1 
know  it  by  the  rake ;  and  there  is  her  night-pen 
nant  fluttering  about  that  bright  star ;  ay,  ay, 
sir,  there  go  our  own  stars  aloft  yet,  dancing 
among  the  stars  in  the  heavens !  God  bless  her ' 
God  bless  her !  she  rides  as  easy  and  as  quiet  as  a 
gull  asleep  !" 

"  I  believe  all  in  her  sleep  too,"  returned  his 
commander.  "  Ha !  by  heaven,  we  have  arrived 
in  good  time  :  the  soldiers  are  moving  !" 

The  quick  eye  of  Barnstable  had  detected  the 
glimmering  of  passing  lanterns,  as  they  flitted 
across  the  embrasures  of  the  battery,  and  at  the 
next  moment,  the  guarded  but  distinct  sounds  of 
an  active  bustle,  on  the  decks  of  the  schooner, 


i'iu>-\  355 

were  plainly  audible.  The  lieutenant  was  rubbing 
his  hands  together,  with  a  sort  of  ecstasy,  that 
probably  will  not  be  understood  by  the  great  ma 
jority  of  our  readers,  while  long  Tom  was  actually 
indulging  in  a  paroxysm  of  his  low  spiritless 
laughter,  AS  these  certain  intimations  of  the  safety 
of  the  Ariel,  and  of  the  vigilance  of  her  crew,  were 
conveyed  to  their  ears ;  when  the  whole  hull  and 
taper  spars  of  their  floating  home  became  unex 
pectedly  visible,  and  the  sky,  the  placid  basin,  and 
the  adjacent  hills,  were  illuminated  by  a  flash  as 
sudden  and  as  vivid  as  the  keenest  lightning. 
Both  Barnstable  and  his  cockswain  seemed  in 
stinctively  to  strain  their  eyes  towards  the  schoon 
er,  with  an  effort  to  surpass  human  vision;  but 
ere  the  rolling  reverberations  of  the  report  of  a 
heavy  piece  of  ordnance,  from  the  heights,  had 
commenced,  the  dull,  whistling  rush  of  the  shot 
swept  over  their  heads,  like  the  moaning  of  a 
hurricane,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  plash  of  the 
waters,  which  was  followed,  in  a  breath,  by  the 
rattling  of  the  mass  of  iron,  as  it  bounded  with  vio 
lent  fury  from  rock  to  rock,  shivering  and  tearing 
the  fragments  that  lined  the  margin  of  the  bay. 

"  A  bad  aim  with  the  first  gun  generally  leaves 
your  enemy  clean  decks,"  said  the  cockswain,  with 
his  deliberate  sort  of  philosophy ;  "  smoke  makes 
but  dim  spectacles ;  besides,  the  night  always 
grows  darkest,  as  you  call  off  the  morning  watch." 

"  That  boy  is  a  miracle  for  his  years  1"  rejoin 
ed  the  delighted  lieutenant.  "  See,  Tom,  the 
younker  has  shifted  his  birth,  in  the  dark,  and  the 
Englishmen  have  fired  by  the  day-range  they 
must  have  taken,  for  we  left  him  in  a  direct  line 
between  the  battery  and  yon  hommoc  !  What 
would  have  become  of  us^  if  that  heavy  fellow 


356  THE    PILOT. 

had  plunged  upon  our  decks,  and  gone  out  below 
the  water-line !" 

"  We  should  have  sunk  into  English  mud,  for 
eternity,  as  sure  as  our  metal  and  kentledge 
would  have  taken  us  down,"  responded  Tom  ; 
"  such  a  point-blanker  would  have  torn  off  a 
streak  of  our  wales,  outboard,  and  not  even  left 
the  marines  time  to  say  a  prayer  ! — tend  bow 
there !" 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  crew  of  the 
whale-boat  continued  idle,  during  this  interchange 
of  opinions  between  the  lieutenant  and  his  cock 
swain  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  sight  of  their  vessel 
acted  on  them  like  a  charm,  and,  believing  that 
all  necessity  for  caution  was  now  over,  they  had 
expended  their  utmost  strength  in  efforts,  that  had 
already  brought  them,  as  the  last  words  of  Tom 
indicated,  to  the  side  of  the  Ariel.  Though  every 
nerve  of  Barnstable  was  thrilling  with  the  ex 
citement  produced  by  his  feelings  passing  from 
a  state  of  the  most  doubtful  apprehension  to 
that  of  a  revived  and  almost  confident  hope  of 
effecting  his  escape,  he  assumed  the  command  of 
his  vessel  with  all  that  stern  but  calm  authority, 
that  seamen  find  it  most  necessary  to  exert  in  the 
moments  of  extremest  danger.  Any  one  of 
the  heavy  shot  that  their  enemies  continued  to 
hurl  from  their  heights  into  the  darkness  of  the 
haven,  he  well  knew  must  prove  fatal  to  them, 
as  it  would,  unavoidably,  pass  through  the  slight 
fabric  of  the  Ariel,  and  open  a  passage  to  the  wa 
ter,  that  no  means  he  possessed  could  remedy. — 
His  mandates,  were,  therefore,  issued,  with  a  full 
perception  of  the  critical  nature  of  the  emergen 
cy,  but  with  that  collectedness  of  manner,  and 
intonation  of  voice,  that  were  best  adapted  to  en- 


THE    PILOT.  357 

force  a  ready  and  animated  obedience.  Under 
this  impulse,  the  crew  of  the  schooner  soon  got 
their  anchor  freed  from  the  bottom,  and,  seizing 
their  sweeps,  they  forced  her,  by  their  united  ef 
forts,  directly  in  the  face  of  the  battery,  under 
that  shore,  whose  summit  was  now  crowned  with 
a  canopy  of  smoke,  that  every  discharge  of  the 
ordnance  tinged  with  dim  colours,  like  the  faintest 
tints  that  are  reflected  from  the  clouds  toward  a 
setting  sun.  So  long  as  the  seamen  were  enabled 
to  keep  their  little  bark  under  the  cover  of  the 
hill,  they  were,  of  course,  safe  ;  but  Barnstable 
perceived,  as  they  emerged  from  its  shadow,  and 
were  drawing  nigh  the  passage  which  led  into 
the  ocean,  that  the  action  of  his  sweeps  would 
no  longer  avail  them  against  the  currents  of  air 
they  encountered,  neither  would  the  darkness 
conceal  their  movements  from  his  enemy,  who 
had  already  employed  men  on  the  shore  to  dis 
cern  the  position  of  the  schooner.  Throwing  off 
at  once,  therefore,  all  appearance  of  disguise,  he 
gave  forth  the  word  to  spread  the  canvass  of  his 
vessel,  in  his  ordinary  cheerful  manner. 

"  Let  them  do  their  worst  now,  Merry,"  he 
added  ;  "  we  have  brought  them  to  a  distance  that 
I  think  will  keep  their  iron  above  water,  and  we 
have  no  dodge  about  us,  younker !" 

"  It  must  be  keener  marksmen  than  the  militia, 
or  volunteers,  or  fencibles,  or  whatever  they  call 
themselves,  behind  yon  grass-bank,  to  frighten 
the  saucy  Ariel  from  the  wind,"  returned  the  reck 
less  boy  ;  "  but  why  have  you  brought  Jonah 
aboard  us  again,  sir  ?  Look  at  him  by  the  light  of 
the  cabin  lamp ;  he  winks  at  every  gun  as  if  he 
expected  the  shot  would  hull  his  own  ugly,  yellow 
physiognomy.  And  what  tidings  have  we,  siri 
from  Mr  Griffith,  and  the  marine .?" 


358  THE    PILOT. 

"  Name  him  not,"  said  Barnstable,  pressing  the 
shoulder  on  which  he  lightly  leaned,  with  a  con 
vulsive  grasp,  that  caused  the  boy  to  yield  with 
pain  ;  "  name  him  not,  Merry  ;  I  want  my  temper 
and  my  faculties  at  this  moment  undisturbed,  and 
thinking  of  the  wretch  unfits  me  for  my  duty.  But, 
there  will  come  a  time !  go  forward,  sir ;  we  feel 
the  wind,  and  have  a  narrow  passage  to  work 
through." 

The  boy  obeyed  a  mandate  which  was  given 
in  the  usual  prompt  manner  of  their  profession, 
and  which,  he  well  understood,  was  intended  to 
intimate,  that  the  distance  which  years  and  rank 
had  created  between  them,  but  which  Barnstable 
often  chose  to  forget  while  communing  with 
Merry,  was  now  to  be  resumed.  The  sails  had 
been  loosened  and  set ;  and,  as  the  vessel  approach 
ed  the  throat  of  the  passage,  the  gale,  which  was 
blowing  with  increasing  violence,  began  to  make 
a  very  sensible  impression  on  the  fight  bark.  The 
cockswain,  who,  in  the  absence  of  most  of  the  in 
ferior  officers,  had  been  acting,  on  the  forecastle, 
the  part  of  one  who  felt,  from  his  years  and  expe 
rience,  that  he  had  some  right  to  advise,  if  not  to 
command,  at  such  a  juncture,  now  walked  to  the 
station  which  his  commander  had  taken,  near  the 
helmsman,  as  if  willing  to  place  himself  in  the  way 
of  being  seen. 

"  Well,  Master  Coffin,"  said  Barnstable,  who 
well  understood  the  propensity  his  old  shipmate 
had  to  commune  with  him,  on  all  important  oc 
casions,  "  what  think  you  of  the  cruise  now : 
Those  gentlemen  on  the  hill  make  a  great  noise, 
but  I  have  lost  even  the  whistling  of  their  shot ; 
one  would  think  they  could  see  our  sails  against 
the  broad  band  of  light  which  is  opening  to  sea 
ward  " 


THE    PILOT.  359 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,  they  see  us,  and  mean  to  hit  us, 
too,  but  we  are  running  across  their  fire,  and  that 
with  a  ten-knot  breeze ;  but,  when  we  heave  in 
stays,  and  get  in  a  line  with  their  guns,  we  shall 
see,  and  it  may  be,  feel,  more  of  their  work  than 
we  do  now ;  a  thirty-two  an't  trained  as  easily  as 
a  fowling-piece  or  a  ducking  gun." 

Barn  stable  was  struck  with  the  truth  of  this  ob 
servation,  but  as  there  existed  an  immediate  neces 
sity  for  placing  the  schooner  in  the  very  situation 
to  which  the  other  alluded,  he  gave  his  orders  at 
once,  and  the  vessel  came  about,  and  ran  with  her 
head  pointing  towards  the  sea,  in  as  short  a  time  as 
we  have  taken  to  record  it. 

"  There,  they  have  us  now,  or  never,"  cried  the 
lieutenant,  when  the  evolution  was  completed.  "  If 
we  fetch  to  windward  of  the  northern  point,  we 
shall  lay  out  into  the  offing,  and  in  ten  minutes  we 
might  laugh  at  Queen  Anne's  pocket-piece,  which, 
you  know,  old  boy,  sent  a  ball  from  Dover  to  Ca 
lais." 

"Ay,  sir,  I've  heard  of  the  gun,"  returned  the 
grave  seaman,  "  and  a  lively  piece  it  must  have 
been,  if  the  streights  were  always  of  the  same 
width  they  are  now.  But  I  see  that,  Captain 
Barnstable,  which  is  more  dangerous  than  a 
dozen  of  the  heaviest  cannon  that  were  ever  cast 
can  be  at  half  a  league's  distance.  The  water 
is  bubbling  through  our  lee-scuppers,  already, 
sir." 

u  And  what  of  that  ?  haven't  I  buried  her  guns 
often,  and  yet  kept  every  spar  in  her  without 
crack  or  splinter  ?" 

"  AV,  ay,  sir,  you  have  done  it,  and  can  do  it 
again,  where  there  is  sea-room,  which  is  all  that  a 
man  wants  for  comfort  in  this  life.  But  when  we 


360  THE    PILOT. 

are  out  of  these  chops,  we  shall  be  embayed,  with 
a  heavy  north-easter  setting  dead  into  the  bight ; 
it  is  that  which  I  fear,  Captain  Barnstable,  more 
than  all  the  powder  and  ball  in  the  whole  island." 

"  And  yet,  Tom,  the  balls  are  not  to  be  despised, 
either ;  those  fellows  have  found  out  their  range, 
and  send  their  iron  within  hail,  again :  we  walk 
pretty  fast,  Mr.  Coffin,  but  a  thirty- two  can  out- 
travel  us,  with  the  best  wind  that  ever  blew." 

Tom  threw  a  cursory  glance  towards  the  bat 
tery,  which  had  renewed  its  fire  with  a  spirit  that 
denoted  they  saw  their  object,  as  he  answered — 

"  It  is  never  worth  a  man's  while  to  strive  to 
dodge  a  shot,  for  they  are  all  commissioned  to  do 
their  work,  the  same  as  a  ship  is  commissioned  to 
cruise  in  certain  latitudes;  but  for  the  winds  and 
the  weather,  they  are  given  for  a  seafaring  man 
to  guard  against,  by  making  or  shortening  sail, 
as  the  case  may  be.  Now,  the  headland  to  the 
southward  stretches  full  three  leagues  to  wind 
ward,  and  the  shoals  lie  to  the  north  ;  among  which 
God  keep  us  from  ever  running  this  craft  again  !" 

"  We  will  beat  her  out  of  the  bight,  old  fellow," 
cried  the  lieutenant ;  "  we  shall  have  a  leg  of  three 
leagues  in  length  to  do  it  in." 

"  I  have  known  longer  legs  too  short,"  returned 
the  cockswain,  shaking  his  head ;  "  a  tumbling 
sea,  with  a  lee-tide,  on  a  lee-shore,  makes  a  sad 
lee-way." 

The  lieutenant  was  in  the  act  of  replying  to 
this  saying,  with  a  cheerful  laugh,  when  the 
whistling  of  a  passing  shot  was  instantly  suc 
ceeded  by  the  crash  of  splintered  wood,  and  at 
the  next  moment  the  head  of  the  main-mast,  after 
tottering  for  an  instant  in  the  gale,  fell  toward 
the  deck,  bringing  with  it  the  main-sail,  and  the 


THE    PILOT.  361 

long  line  of  top-mast,  that  had  oeen  bearing  the 
emblems  of  America,  as  the  cockswain  had  ex 
pressed  it,  among  the  stars  of  the  heavens. 

"  That  was  a  most  unlucky  hit !"  Barnstable 
suffered  to  escape  him,  in  the  concern  of  the  mo 
ment  ;  but,  instantly  resuming  all  his  collect- 
edness  of  manner  and  voice,  he  gave  his  orders 
to  clear  the  wreck,  and  secure  the  fluttering  can 
vass. 

The  mournful  forebodings  of  Tom  seemed  to 
vanish  with  the  appearance  of  a  necessity  for  his 
exertions,  and  he  was  foremost  among  the  crew 
in  executing  the  orders  of  their  commander. 
The  loss  of  all  the  sail  on  the  main-mast  forced 
the  Ariel  so  much  from  her  course,  as  to  render 
it  difficult  to  weather  the  point,  that  jutted,  under 
her  lee,  for  some  distance  into  the  ocean.  This 
desirable  object  was,  however,  effected,  by  the 
skill  of  Barnstable,  aided  by  the  excellent  pro 
perties  of  his  vessel ;  and  the  schooner,  borne 
down  by  the  power  of  the  gale,  from  whose  fury 
she  had  now  no  protection,  passed  heavily  along 
the  land,  heading,  as  far  as  possible,  from  the 
breakers,  while  the  seamen  were  engaged  in 
making  their  preparations  to  display  as  much  of 
their  main-sail,  as  the  stump  of  the  mast  would 
allow  them  to  spread.  The  firing  from  the  bat 
tery  ceased,  as  the  Ariel  rounded  the  little  pro 
montory ;  but  Barnstable,  whose  gaze  was  now 
bent  intently  on  the  ocean,  soon  perceived  that,  as 
his  cockswain  had  predicted,  he  had  a  much  more 
threatening  danger  to  encounter,  in  the  elements. 
When  their  damages  were  repaired,  so  far  as 
circumstances  would  permit,  the  cockswain  re 
turned  to  his  wonted  station  near  the  lieutenant, 
and  after  a  momentary  pause,  during  which  his 
31 


362  THE    PILOT. 

eyes  roved  over  the  rigging,  with  a  seaman's 
scrutiny,  he  resumed  the  discourse. 

"  It  would  have  been  better  for  us  that  the  best 
man  in  the  schooner  should  have  been  dubb'd  of  a 
limb,  by  that  shot,  than  that  the  Ariel  should 
have  lost  her  best  leg;  a  main-sail  close-ieefed, 
may  be  prudent  canvass,  as  the  wind  blows,  but  it 
holds  a  poor  luff  to  keep  a  craft  to  windward." 

"  What  would  you  have,  Tom  Coffin  !"  re 
torted  his  commander.  "  You  see  she  draws 
ahead,  and  off-shore ;  do  you  expect  a  vessel  to 
fly  in  the  very  teeth  of  the  gale,  or  would  you 
have  me  wear  and  beach  her,  at  once  ?" 

ct  I  would  have  nothing,  nothing,  Captain 
Barnstable,"  returned  the  old  seaman,  sensibly 
touched  at  his  commander's  displeasure  :  "  you 
are  as  able  as  any  man  who  ever  trod  a  plank  to 
work  her  into  an  offing ;  but,  sir,  when  that  sol 
dier-officer  told  me  of  the  scheme  to  sink  the 
Ariel  at  her  anchor,  there  were  such  feelings 
come  athwart  my  philosophy  as  never  crossed  it 
afore.  I  thought  I  saw  her  a  wrack,  as  plainly, 
ay,  as  plainly  as  you  may  see  the  stump  of  that 
aiast ;  and,  I  will  own  it,  for  it's  as  natural  to  love 
the  craft  you  sail  in  as  it  is  to  love  one's  self,  I  will 
own  that  my  manhood  fetched  a  heavy  lee-lurch  at 
the  sight." 

"  Away  with  ye,  ye  old  sea-croaker !  forward 
with  ye,  and  see  that  the  head-sheets  are  trimmed 
fiV.  But  hold  !  come  hither,  Tom  ;  if  you  have 
sights  of  wrecks,  and  sharks,  and  other  beautiful 
objects,  keep  them  stowed  in  your  own  silly  brain  ; 
don't  make  a  ghost-parlour  of  my  forecastle.  The 
lads  oegin  to  look  to  leeward,  now,  oftener  than  1 
would  have  them.  Go,  sirrah,  go,  and  take  ex 
ample  from  Mr.  Merry,  who  is  seated  on  your 


THE    PILOT.  363 

namesake  there,  and  is  singing  as  if  he  were  a 
chorister  in  his  father's  church." 

"  Ah,  Captain  Barnstable,  Mr.  Merry  is  a  boy, 
and  knows  nothing,  so  fears  nothing.  But  I  shall 
obey  your  orders,  sir ;  and  if  the  men  fall  astern, 
this  gale,  it  shan't  be  for  any  thing  they'll  hear 
firom  old  Tom  Coffin." 

The  cockswain  lingered  a  moment,  notwitlv- 
standing  his  promised  obedience,  and  then  ven 
tured  to  request,  that — 

"  Captain  Barnstable  would  please  to  call  Mr. 
Merry  from  the  gun;  for  I  know,  from  having 
followed  the  seas  my  natural  life,  that  singing 
in  a  gale  is  sure  to  bring  the  wind  down  upon  a 
vessel  the  heavier ;  for  He  who  rules  the  tempe-sts 
is  displeased  that  man's  voice  shall  be  heard, 
when  He  chooses  to  send  His  own  breath  on  the 
water." 

Barnstable  was  at  a  loss,  whether  to  laugh  at 
his  cockswain's  infirmity,  or  to  yield  to  the  im 
pression  which  his  earnest  and  solemn  manner 
had  a  powerful  tendency  to  produce,  amid  such  a 
scene.  But,  making  an  effort  to  shake  off  the 
superstitious  awe  that  he  felt  creeping  around 
his  own  heart,  the  lieutenant  relieved  the  mind 
of  the  worthy  seaman  so  far  as  to  call  the  care 
less  boy  from  his  perch,  to  his  own  side  ;  where 
respect  for  the  sacied  character  of  the  quarter 
deck  instantly  put  an  end  to  the  lively  air  he  had 
been  humming.  Tom  walked  slowly  forward, 
apparently  much  relieved  by  the  reflection  that  he 
had  effected  so  important  an  object. 

The  Ariel  continued  to  struggle  against  the 
winds  and  ocean  for  several  hours  longer,  before 
the  day  broke  on  the  tempestuous  scene,  and  the 
anxious  mariners  were  enabled  to  form  a  more 
accurate  estimate  of  their  real  danger.  As  the 


364  THE    PILOT. 

violence  of  the  gale  increased,  the  canvass  of  the 
schooner  had  been  gradually  reduced,  until  she 
was  unable  to  show  more  than  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  prevent  her  driving  helplessly  on  the 
land.  Barnstable  watched  the  appearance  of  the 
weather,  as  the  light  slowly  opened  upon  them, 
with  an  intense  anxiety,  which  denoted  that 
the  presentiments  of  the  cockswain  were  no  lon 
ger  deemed  idle.  On  looking  to  windward,  he 
beheld  the  green  masses  of  water  that  were  roll 
ing  in  towards  the  land,  with  a  violence  that 
seemed  irresistible,  crowned  with  ridges  of  foam  ; 
and  there  were  moments  when  the  air  appeared 
filled  with  sparkling  gems,  as  the  rays  of  the 
rising  sun  fell  upon  the  spray  that  was  swept 
from  wave  to  wave.  Toward  the  land,  the  view 
was  still  more  appalling.  The  cliffs,  but  a  short 
half-league  under  the  lee  of  the  schooner,  were, 
at  times,  nearly  hid  from  the  eye  by  the  pyramids 
of  water,  which  the  furious  element,  so  suddenly 
restrained  in  its  violence,  cast  high  into  the  air, 
as  if  seeking  to  overleap  the  boundaries  that  na 
ture  had  affixed  to  its  dominion.  The  whole 
coast,  from  the  distant  headland  at  the  south,  to 
the  well-known  shoals  that  stretched  far  beyond 
their  course,  in  the  opposite  direction,  displayed 
a  broad  belt  of  foam,  into  which  it  would  have 
been  certain  destruction,  for  the  proudest  ship 
that  swam,  to  have  entered.  Still  the  Ariel 
floated  on  the  billows,  lightly  and  in  safety, 
though  yielding  to  the  impulses  of  the  waters 
and,  at  times,  appearing  to  be  engulphed  in  the 
yawning  chasms,  which,  apparently,  opened  be 
neath  her  to  receive  the  little  fabric.  The  low 
rumour  of  acknowledged  danger  had  found  its 
way  through  the  schooner,  and  the  seamen,  after 
fastening  their  hopeless  looks  on  the  small  spot  of 


THE    PILOT.  365 

canvass  that  they  were  still  able  to  show  to  the 
tempest,  would  turn  to  view  the  dreary  line  of 
coast,  that  seemed  to  offer  so  gloomy  an  alterna 
tive.  Even  Dillon,  to  whom  the  report  of  their 
danger  had  found  its  way,  crept  from  his  place  of 
concealment  in  the  cabin,  and  moved  about  the 
decks,  unheeded,  devouring,  with  greedy  ears, 
such  opinions  as  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  sullen 
mariners. 

At  this  moment  of  appalling  apprehension, 
the  cockswain  exhibited  the  calmest  resignation. 
He  knew  all  had  been  done,  that  lay  in  the 
power  of  man,  to  urge  their  little  vessel  from 
the  land,  and  it  was  now  too  evident  to  his 
experienced  eyes,  that  it  had  been  done  in  vain ; 
but,  considering  himself  as  a  sort  of  fixture  in 
the  schooner,  he  was  quite  prepared  to  abide  her 
fate,  be  it  for  better  or  for  worse.  The  settled 
look  of  gloom  that  gathered  around  the  frank 
brow  of  Barnstable,  was  in  no  degree  connected 
with  any  considerations  of  himself,  but,  proceed 
ed  from  that  sort  of  parental  responsibility,  from 
which  the  sea-commander  is  never  exempt.  The 
discipline  of  the  crew,  however,  still  continued 
perfect  and  unyielding.  There  had,  it  is  true, 
been  a  slight  movement  made  by  one  or  two  of 
the  older  seamen,  which  indicated  an  intention 
to  drown  the  apprehensions  of  death  in  ebriety ; 
but  Barnstable  had  called  for  his  pistols,  in  a 
tone  that  checked  the  procedure  instantly,  and, 
although  the  fatal  weapons  were,  untouched 
by  him,  left  to  lie  exposed  on  the  capstan, 
where  they  had  been  placed  by  his  servant,  not 
another  symptom  of  insubordination  appeared 
among  the  devoted  crew.  There  was  even,  what 
to  a  landsman  might  seem  an  appalling  affectation 
of  attention  to  the  most  trifling  duties  of  the  ves- 
31  * 


366  THE    PILOT. 

sel ;  and  the  men,  who,  it  should  seem,  ought  to 
be  devoting  the  brief  moments  of  their  existence 
to  the  mighty  business  of  the  hour,  were  con 
stantly  called  to  attend  to  the  most  trivial  details 
of  their  profession.  Ropes  were  coiled,  and  the 
slightest  damages  occasioned  by  the  waves,  which, 
at  short  intervals,  swept  across  the  low  decks  of 
the  Ariel,  were  repaired,  with  the  same  precision 
and  order,  as  if  she  yet  lay  embayed  in  the  haven 
from  which  she  had  just  been  driven.  In  this 
manner  the  arm  of  authority  was  kept  extended 
over  the  silent  crew,  not  with  the  vain  desire  to 
preserve  a  lingering  though  useless  exercise  of 
power,  but  with  a  view  to  maintain  that  unity  of 
action,  that  now  could  alone  afford  them  even  a 
ray  o(  hope. 

"  She  can  make  no  head  against  this  sea,  un 
der  that  rag  of  canvass,"  said  Barnstable,  gloom 
ily  ;  addressing  the  cockswain,  who,  with  folded 
arms,  and  an  air  of  cool  resignation,  was  balanc 
ing  his  body  on  the  verge  of  the  quarter-deck, 
while  the  schooner  was  plunging  madly  into 
waves  that  nearly  buried  her  in  their  bosom : 
"  the  poor  little  thing  trembles  like  a  frightened 
child,  as  she  meets  the  water." 

Tom  sighed  heavily,  and  shook  his  head,  before 
he  answered — 

"If  we  could  have  kept  the  head  of  the  main 
mast  an  hour  longer,  we  might  have  got  an  offing, 
and  fetched  to  windward  of  the  shoals  ;  but  as  it 
is,  sir,  mortal  man  can't  drive  a  craft  to  wind 
ward — she  sets  bodily  in  to  land,  and  will  be  in 
the  breakers  in  less  than  an  hour,  unless  God  wills 
that  the  wind  shall  cease  to  blow." 

"  We  have  no  hope  left  us,  but  to  anchor ;  oui 
ground  tackle  may  yet  bring  her  up."' 

Tom  turned  to  his  commander,  and  replied,  so* 


THE    PILOT.  367 

(emnly,  and  with  that  assurance  of  manner,  that 
long  experience  only  can  give  a  man  in  moments 
of  great  danger — 

"  If  our  sheet-cable  was  bent  to  our  heaviest 
anchor,  this  sea  would  bring  it  home,  though  no 
thing  but  her  lauach  was  riding  by  it.  A  north 
easter  in  the  German  Ocean  must  and  will  blow 
itself  out ;  nor  shall  we  get  the  crown  of  the  gale 
until  the  sun  falls  over  the  land.  Then,  indeed, 
it  may  lull ;  for  the  winds  do  often  seem  to  reve 
rence  the  glory  of  the  Heavens,  too  much  to  blow 
their  might  in  its  very  face  !" 

"  We  must  do  our  duty  to  ourselves  and  the 
country,"  returned  Barnstable.  "Go,  get  the  two 
bowers  spliced,  and  have  a  kedge  bent  to  a  haw 
ser:  we'll  back  our  two  anchors  together,  and 
veer  to  the  better  end  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
fathoms ;  it  may  yet  bring  her  up.  See  all  clear 
there  for  anchoring,  and  cutting  away  the  mast! 
we'll  leave  the  wind  nothing  but  a  naked  hull  to 
whistle  over." 

"  Ay,  if  there  was  nothing  but  the  wind,  we 
might  yet  live  to  see  the  sun  sink  behind  them 
hills,"  said  the  cockswain ;  "  but  what  hemp  can 
stand  the  strain  of  a  craft  that  is  buried,  half  the 
time,  to  her  foremast  in  the  water  ?" 

The  order  was,  however,  executed  by  the  crew, 
with  a  sort  of  desperate  submission  to  the  will  of 
their  commander  ;  and  when  the  preparations 
were  completed,  the  anchors  and  kedge  were 
dropped  to  the  bottom,  and  the  instant  that  the 
Ariel  tended  to  the  wind,  the  axe  was  applied  to 
the  little  that  was  left  of  her  long,  raking  masts. 
The  crash  of  the  falling  spars,  as  they  came, 
in  succession,  across  the  decks  of  the  vessel, 
appeared  to  produce  no  sensation  amid  that 
scene  of  comi>licated  danger,  but  the  seamen 


368  THE    PILOT. 

proceeded  in  silence  to  their  hopeless  duty  of 
clearing  the  wrecks.  Every  eye  followed  the 
floating  timbers,  as  the  waves  swept  them  away 
from  the  vessel,  with  a  sort  of  feverish  curiosity, 
to  witness  the  effect  produced  by  their  collision 
with  those  rocks  that  lay  so  fearfully  near  them ; 
but  long  before  the  spars  entered  the  wide  border 
of  foam,  they  were  hid  from  view  by  the  furioug 
element  in  which  they  floated.  It  was,  now,  felt 
by  the  whole  crew  of  the  Ariel,  that  their  last 
means  of  safety  had  been  adopted,  and,  at  each 
desperate  and  headlong  plunge  the  vessel  took, 
into  the  bosom  of  the  seas  that  rolled  upon  her 
forecastle,  the  anxious  seamen  thought  they  could 
perceive  the  yielding  of  the  iron  that  yet  clung 
to  the  bottom,  or  could  hear  the  violent  surge  of 
the  parting  strands  of  the  cable,  that  still  held 
them  to  their  anchors.  While  the  minds  of  the 
sailors  were  agitated  with  the  faint  hopes  that 
had  been  excited  by  the  movements  of  their 
schooner,  Dillon  had  been  permitted  to  wander 
about  the  vessel  unnoticed :  his  rolling  eyes,  hard 
breathing,  and  clenched  hands,  excited  no  obser 
vation  among  the  men,  whose  thoughts  were  yet 
dwelling  on  the  means  of  safety.  But  now,  when 
with  a  sort  of  frenzied  desperation,  he  would  fol 
low  the  retiring  waters  along  the  decks,  and  ven 
ture  his  person  nigh  the  group  that  had  collected 
around  and  on  the  gun  of  the  cockswain,  glances 
of  fierce  or  of  sullen  vengeance  were  cast  at  him, 
that  conveyed  threats  of  a  nature  that  he  was  too 
much  agitated  to  understand. 

"If  ye  are  tired  of  this  world,  though  your 
time,  like  my  own,  is  probably  but  short  in  it," 
said  Tom  to  him,  as  he  passed  the  cockswain  in 
one  of  his  turns,  "  you  can  go  forward  among 
the  men  ;  but  if  ye  have  need  of  the  moments  to 


THE    PILOT.  369 


foot  up  the  reckoning  of  your  doings  among 
afore  ye're  brought  to  face  your  Maker,  and 
hear  the  log-book  of  Heaven,  I  would  advise  you 
to  keep  as  nigh  as  possible  to  Captain  Barnstable 
or  myself." 

"  Will  you  promise  to  save  me  if  the  vessel  is 
wrecked  ?"  exclaimed  Dillon,  catching  at  the  first 
sounds  of  friendly  interest  that  had  reached  his 
ears,  since  he  had  been  recaptured  ;  "  O  !  if  you 
will,  I  can  secure  you  future  ease  ;  yes,  wealth, 
for  the  remainder  of  your  days  !" 

"  Your  promises  have  been  too  ill  kept  afore  this, 
for  the  peace  of  your  soul,"  returned  the  cock 
swain,  without  bitterness,  though  sternly  ;  "  but 
it  is  not  in  me  to  strike  even  a  whale  that  is  already 
spouting  blood." 

The  intercessions  of  Dillon  were  interrupted 
by  a  dreadful  cry,  that  arose  among  the  men  for 
ward,  and  which  sounded  with  increased  horror, 
amid  the  roarings  of  the  tempest.  The  schooner 
rose  on  the  breast  of  a  wave  at  the  same  instant, 
and,  falling  off  with  her  broadside  to  the  sea,  she 
drove  in  towards  the  cliffs,  like  a  bubble  on  the 
rapids  of  a  cataract. 

"  Our  ground  tackle  has  parted,"  said  Tom, 
with  his  resigned  patience  of  manner  undisturbed  ; 
"she  shall  die  as  easy  as  man  can  make  her!"  —  • 
While  he  yet  spoke,  he  seized  the  tiller,  and  gave 
to  the  vessel  such  a  direction  as  would  be  most 
likely  to  cause  her  to  strike  the  rocks  with  her 
bows  foremost. 

There  was,  for  one  moment,  an  expression  of 
exquisite  anguish  betrayed  in  the  dark  counte 
nance  of  Barnstable  ;  but,  at  the  next,  it  passed 
away,  and  he  spoke  cheerfully  to  his  men  — 

"  Be  steady,  my  lads,  be  calm  ;  there  is  yet  a 
hope  of  life  for  you  —  our  light  draught  will  let  us 


370  THE    PILOT. 

run  in  close  to  the  cliffs,  and  it  is  still  falling  water 
— see  your  boats  clear,  and  be  steady." 

The  crew  of  the  whale-boat,  aroused  by  this 
speech  from  a  sort  of  stupor,  sprang  into  their 
light  vessel,  which  was  quickly  lowered  into  the 
sea,  and  kept  riding  on  the  foam,  free  from  the 
sides  of  the  schooner,  by  the  powerful  exertions  of 
the  men.  The  cry  for  the  cockswain  was  earnest 
and  repeated,  but  Tom  shook  his  head,  without 
replying,  still  grasping  the  tiller,  and  keeping 
his  eyes  steadily  bent  on  the  chaos  of  waters,  into 
which  they  were  driving.  The  launch,  the  lar 
gest  boat  of  the  two,  was  cut  loose  from  tr 
u  gripes,"  and  the  bustle  and  exertion  of  th 
moment  rendered  the  crew  insensible  to  the  hor 
ror  of  the  scene  that  surrounded  them.  But  the 
loud,  hoarse  call  of  the  cockswain,  to  "look 
out — secure  yourselves  !"  suspended  even  their 
efforts,  and  at  that  instant  the  Ariel  settled  on  a 
wave,  that  melted  from  under  her,  heavily  on  the 
rocks.  The  shock  was  so  violent,  as  to  throw  all 
who  disregarded  the  warning  cry  from  their  feet, 
and  the  universal  quiver  that  pervaded  the 
vessel  was  like  the  last  shudder  of  animated  na 
ture.  For  a  time  long  enough  to  breathe,  the 
least  experienced  among  the  men  supposed  the 
danger  to  be  past;  but  a  wave  of  great  height 
followed  the  one  that  had  deserted  them,  and 
raising  the  vessel  again,  threw  her  roughly 
si  ill  further  on  the  bed  of  rocks,  and  at  the 
same  time  its  crest  broke  over  her  quarter,  sweep 
ing  the  length  of  her  decks,  with  a  fury  that 
was  almost  resistless.  The  shuddering  seamen 
beheld  their  loosened  boat  driven  from  their 
grasp,  and  dashed  against  the  base  of  the  cliffs, 
where  no  fragment  of  her  wreck  could  be  traced, 
at  the  receding  of  the  waters.  But  the  passing 


THE    PILOT.  371 

billow  had  thrown  the  vessel  into  a  position  which, 
in  some  measure,  protected  her  decks  from  the 
violence  of  those  that  succeeded  it. 

"  Go,  my  boys,  go,"  said  Barnstable,  as  the 
moment  of  dreadful  uncertainty  passed  ;  "  you 
have  still  the  whale-boat,  and  she,  at  least,  will 
take  you  nigh  the  shore.  Go  into  her,  my  boys. 
God  bless  you,  God  bless  you  all  !  you  have 
been  faithful  and  honest  fellows,  and  I  believe 
he  will  not  yet  desert  you  ;  go,  my  friends,  while 
there  is  a  lull." 

The  seamen  threw  themselves,  in  a  mass,  into 
the  light  vessel,  which  nearly  sunk  under  the 
unusual  burthen;  but  when  they  looked  around 
them,  Barnstable  and  Merry,  Dillon  and  the 
cockswain,  were  yet  to  be  seen  on  the  decks  of 
the  Ariel.  The  former  was  pacing,  in  deep,  and 
perhaps  bitter  melancholy,  the  wet  planks  of  the 
schooner,  while  the  boy  hung,  unheeded,  on  his 
arm,  uttering  disregarded  petitions  to  his  com 
mander,  to  desert  the  wreck.  Dillon  approached 
the  side  where  the  boat  lay,  again  and  again,  but 
the  threatening  countenances  of  the  seamen  as 
often  drove  him  back  in  despair.  Tom  had  seated 
himself  on  the  heel  of  the  bowsprit,  where  he 
continued,  in  an  attitude  of  quiet  resignation, 
returning  no  other  answers  to  the  loud  and  re 
peated  calls  of  his  shipmates,  than  by  waving  his 
hand  toward  the  shore. 

"  Now  hear  me,"  said  the  boy,  urging  his  re 
quest,  to  tears;  "  if  not  for  my  sake,  or  for  your 
own  sake,  Mr.  Barnstable,  or  for  the  hopes  of 
God's  mercy,  go  into  the  boat,  for  the  love  of  my 
cousin  Katherine." 

The  young  lieutenant  paused  in  his  troubled 
walk,  and  for  a  moment  he  cast  a  glance  of  hesi 
tation  at  the  cliffs;  but,  at  the  next  instant,  his 


372  THE    PILOT. 

eyes  fell  on  the  ruin  of  his  vessel,  and  he  answer 
ed — 

"Never,  boy,  never;  if  my  hour  has  come,  1 
will  not  shrink  from  my  fate." 

"  Listen  to  the  men,  dear  sir ;  the  boat  will  be 
swamped  alongside  the  wreck,  and  their  cry  is, 
that  without  you  they  will  not  let  her  go." 

Barnstable  motioned  to  the  boat,  to  bid  the  boy 
enter  it,  and  turned  away  in  silence. 

"  Well,"  said  Merry,  with  firmness,  "  if  it  be 
right  that  a  lieutenant  shall  stay  by  the  wreck,  it 
must  also  be  right  for  a  midshipman ;  shove  off, 
neither  Mr.  Barnstable  nor  myself  will  quit  the 
vessel." 

"  Boy,  your  life  has  been  intrusted  to  my  keep 
ing,  and  at  my  hands  will  it  be  required,"  said 
his  commander,  lifting  the  struggling  youth,  and 
tossing  him  into  the  arms  of  the  seamen.  "  Away 
with  ye,  and  God  be  with  you  ;  there  is  more 
weight  in  you,  now,  than  can  go  safe  to  land." 

Still  the  seamen  hesitated,  for  they  perceived 
the  cockswain,  moving,  with  a  steady  tread,  along 
the  deck,  and  they  hoped  he  had  relented,  and 
would  yet  persuade  the  lieutenant  to  join  his 
crew.  But  Tom,  imitating  the  example  of  his 
commander,  seized  the  latter,  suddenly,  in  his 
powerful  grasp,  and  threw  him  over  the  bulwarks, 
with  an  irresistible  force.  At  the  same  moment, 
he  cast  the  fast  of  the  boat  from  the  pin  that  held 
it,  and,  lifting  his  broad  hands  high  into  the  air, 
his  voice  was  heard  in  the  tempest. 

"  God's  will  be  done  with  me,"  he  cried.  "  I 
saw  the  first  timber  of  the  Ariel  laid,  and  shall 
live  just  long  enough  to  see  it  turn  out  of  her 
bottom ;  after  which  I  wish  to  live  no  longer." 

But  his  shipmates  were  swept  far  beyond  the 
sounds  oJ  his  voice,  before  half  these  words  weres 


THE    PILOT.  373 

uttered.  All  command  of  the  boat  was  ren 
dered  impossible,  by  the  numbers  it  contained,  as 
well  as  the  raging  of  the  surf;  and,  as  it  rose  on 
the  white  crest  of  a  wave,  Tom  saw  his  beloved 
little  craft  for  the  last  time.  It  fell  into  a  trough 
of  the  sea,  and  in  a  few  moments  more  its  frag 
ments  were  ground  into  splinters  on  the  adjacent 
rocks.  The  cockswain  still  remained  where  he 
had  cast  off  the  rope,  and  beheld  the  numerous 
heads  and  arms  that  appeared  rising,  at  short  in 
tervals,  on  the  waves ;  some  making  powerful  and 
well-directed  efforts  to  gain  the  sands,  that  were 
becoming  visible  as  the  tide  fell,  and  others 
wildly  tossed,  in  the  frantic  movements  of  helpless 
despair.  The  honest  old  seaman  gave  a  cry  of 
joy,  as  he  saw  Barnstable  issue  from  the  surf, 
bearing  the  form  of  Merry  in  safety  to  the  sands, 
where,  one  by  one,  several  seamen  soon  appeared 
also,  dripping  and  exhausted.  Many  others  of 
the  crew  were  carried,  in  a  similar  manner,  to 
places  of  safety ;  though,  as  Tom  returned  to  his 
seat  on  the  bowsprit,  he  could  not  conceal,  from 
his  reluctant  eyes,  the  lifeless  forms  that  were, 
in  other  spots,  driven  against  the  rocks  with  a 
fury  that  soon  left  them  but  few  of  the  outward 
vestiges  of  humanity. 

Dillon  and  the  cockswain  were  now  the  sole 
occupants  of  their  dreadful  station.  The  for 
mer  stood,  in  a  kind  of  stupid  despair,  a  witness 
of  the  scene  we  have  related;  but  as  his  cur 
dled  blood  began  again  to  flow  more  warmly 
through  his  heart,  he  crept  close  to  the  side  of 
Tom,  with  that  sort  of  selfish  feeling  that  makes 
even  hopeless  misery  more  tolerable,  when  endur 
ed  in  participation  with  another. 

"  When  the  tide  falls,"  he  said  in  a  voice  that 
32 


374  THE    PILOT. 

betrayed  the  agony  of  fear,  though  his  words  ex 
pressed  the  renewal  of  hope,  "  we  shall  be  able  to 
walk  to  land." 

"  There  was  One,  and  only  One,  to  whose 
feet  the  waters  were  the  same  as  a  dry  deck," 
returned  the  cockswain  ;  "  and  none  but  such 
as  nave  his  power  will  ever  be  able  to  walk 
from  these  rocks  to  the  sands."  The  old  sea 
man  paused,  and  turning  his  eyes,  which  exhibit 
ed  a  mingled  expression  of  disgust  and  com 
passion,  on  his  companion,  he  added,  with  reve 
rence — "  Had  you  thought  more  of  him  in  fair 
weather,  your  case  would  be  less  to  be  pitied  in 
this  tempest." 

"  Do  you  still  think  there  is  much  danger  ?" 
asked  Dillon. 

"  To  them  that  have  reason  to  fear  death. 
Listen !  do  you  hear  that  hollow  noise  beneath 
ye?" 

<c'Tis  the  wind,  driving  by  the  vessel !" 

"  'Tis  the  poor  thing  herself,"  said  the  affected 
cockswain,  "  giving  her  last  groans.  The  water 
is  breaking  up  her  decks,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
more,  the  handsomest  model  that  ever  cut  a 
wave,  will  be  like  the  chips  that  fell  from  her  tim 
bers  in  framing  !" 

"  Why,  then,  did  you  remain  here  !"  cried  Dil 
lon,  wildly. 

"  To  die  in  my  coffin,  if  it  should  be  the  will 
of  God,"  returned  Tom.  "  These  waves,  to  me, 
are  what  the  land  is  to  you  ;  I  was  born  on  them, 
and  I  have  always  meant  that  they  should  be  my 
grave." 

"But  I— I,"  shrieked  Dillon,  "  I  am  not  ready 
to  die ! — I  cannot  die  ! — I  will  not  die  !" 

"  Poor   wretch  !"    muttered    his  companion  ; 


THE    PILOT.  375 

"you  must  go,  like  the  rest  of  us  ;  when  the 
death-watch  is  called,  none  can  skulk  from  the 
muster." 

"  I  can  swim,"  Dillon  continued,  rushing,  with 
frantic  eagerness,  to  the  side  of  the  wreck.  u  Is 
there  no  billet  of  wood,  no  rope,  that  I  can  take 
with  me  ?" 

"  None ;  every  thing  has  been  cut  away,  or 
carried  off  by  the  sea.  If  ye  are  about  to  strive 
for  your  life,  take  with  ye  a  stout  heart  and  a 
clean  conscience,  and  trust  the  rest  to  God  !" 

"  God  !"  echoed  Dillon  in  the  madness  of  his 
frenzy  ;  "  I  know  no  God !  there  is  no  God  that 
knows  me !" 

"  Peace  !"  said  the  deep  tones  of  the  cock 
swain,  in  a  voice  that  seemed  to  speak  in  the  ele 
ments  ;  "  blasphemer,  peace  !" 

The  heavy  groaning,  produced  by  the  water 
in  the  timbers  of  the  Ariel,  at  that  moment  added 
its  impulse  to  the  raging  feelings  of  Dillon,  and  he 
cast  himself  headlong  into  the  sea. 

The  water,  thrown  by  the  rolling  of  the  surf 
on  the  beach,  was  necessarily  returned  to  the 
ocean,  in  eddies,  in  different  places  favourable  to 
such  an  action  of  the  element.  Into  the  edge  of 
one  of  these  counter-currents,  that  was  produced 
by  the  very  rocks  on  which  the  schooner  lay,  and 
which  the  watermen  call  the  "  under-tow,"  Dil 
lon  had,  unknowingly,  thrown  his  person,  and 
when  the  waves  had  driven  him  a  short  distance 
from  the  wreck,  he  was  met  by  a  stream  that  his 
most  desperate  efforts  could  not  overcome.  He 
was  a  light  and  powerful  swimmer,  and  the  strug 
gle  was  hard  and  protracted.  With  the  shore 
immediately  before  his  eyes,  and  at  no  great  dis 
tance,  he  was  led,  as  by  a  false  phantom,  to  con 
tinue  his  efforts,  although  they  did  not  advance 


376  THE    PILOT. 

him  a  foot.  The  old  seaman,  who,  at  first,  had 
watched  his  motions  with  careless  indifference, 
understood  the  danger  of  his  situation  at  a 
glance,  and,  forgetful  of  his  own  fate,  he  shout 
ed  aloud,  in  a  voice  that  was  driven  over  the 
struggling  victim  to  the  ears  of  his  shipmates  on 
the  sands — 

"  Sheer  to-port,  and  clear  the  under-tow  !  sheer 
to  the  southward !" 

Dillon  heard  the  sounds,  but  his  faculties 
were  too  much  obscured  by  terror,  to  distin 
guish  their  object;  he,  however,  blindly  yielded 
to  the  call,  and  gradually  changed  his  direc 
tion,  until  his  face  was  once  more  turned  towards 
the  vessel.  The  current  swept  him  diagonally  by 
the  rocks,  and  he  was  forced  into  an  eddy,  where 
he  had  nothing  to  contend  against  but  the  waves, 
whose  violence  was  much  broken  by  the  wreck. 
In  this  state,  he  continued  still  to  struggle,  but 
with  a  force  that  was  too  much  weakened,  to 
overcome  the  resistance  he  met.  Tom  looked 
around  him  for  a  rope,  but  all  had  gone  over  with 
the  spars,  or  been  swept  away  by  the  waves.  At 
this  moment  of  disappointment,  his  eyes  met 
those  of  the  desperate  Dillon.  Calm,  and  inured 
to  horrors,  as  was  the  veteran  seaman,  he  invo 
luntarily  passed  his  hand  before  his  brow,  to 
exclude  the  look  of  despair  he  encountered ;  and 
when,  a  moment  afterwards,  he  removed  the  rigid 
member,  he  beheld  the  sinking  form  of  the  victim, 
as  it  gradually  settled  in  the  ocean,  still  struggling, 
with  regular  but  impotent  strokes  of  the  arms  and 
feet,  to  gain  the  wreck,  and  to  preserve  an  exis 
tence  that  had  been  so  much  abused  in  its  hour 
of  allotted  probation. 

"  He  will  soon  know  his  God,  and  learn  that  his 
God  knows  him !"   murmured   the   cockswain  to 


THE    PILOT,  377 

himseK.  AS  he  yet  spoke,  the  wreck  of  the  Ariel 
yielded  to  an  overwhelming  sea,  and,  after  a  uni 
versal  shudder,  hei  timbers  and  planks  gave  wayt 
and  were  swept  towards  the  cliffs,  bearing  the 
body  of  the  simple-hearted  cockswain  among  the 
ruins. 

32* 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 


M  Let  us  think  of  them  that  Bleep 
Full  many  a  fathom  deep, 
By  the  wild  and  stormy  steep, 
Elsinore !" 

Campbell. 


LONG  and  dreary  did  the  hours  appear  to 
Barnstable,  before  the  falling  tide  had  so  far  re 
ceded,  as  to  leave  the  sands  entirely  exposed  to 
his  search  for  the  bodies  of  his  lost  shipmates. 
Several  had  been  rescued  from  the  wild  fury  of 
the  waves  themselves,  and  one  by  one,  as  the  me 
lancholy  conviction  that  life  had  ceased  was  forced 
on  the  survivors,  they  had  been  decently  inter 
red  in  graves  dug  on  the  very  margin  of  that  ele 
ment  on  which  they  had  passed  their  lives.  But 
still  the  form  longest  known  and  most  beloved  was 
missing,  and  the  lieutenant  paced  the  broad  space 
that  was  now  left  between  the  foot  of  the  cliffs  and 
the  raging  ocean,  with  hurried  strides  and  a  fever 
ish  eye,  watching  and  following  those  fragments 
of  the  wreck  that  the  sea  still  continued  to  cast  on 
the  beach.  Living  and  dead,  he  now  found,  that 
of  those  who  had  lately  been  in  the  Ariel,  only 
two  were  missing.  Of  the  former  he  could  mus 
ter  but  twelve,  besides  Merry  and  himself,  and  his 
men  had  already  interred  more  than  half  that  num 
ber  of  the  latter,  which,  together,  embraced  all 


THE    PILOT.  379 

who  had  trusted  their  lives  to  the  frail  keeping  of 
the  whale-boat. 

"  Tell  me  not,  boy,  of  the  impossibility  of  his 
being  safe/'  said  Barnstable,  in  deep  agitation, 
which  he  in  vain  struggled  to  conceal  from  the 
anxious  youth,  who  thought  it  unnecessary  to  fol 
low  the  uneasy  motions  of  his  commander,  as  he 
strode  along  the  sands.  "How  often  have  men 
been  found  floating  on  pieces  of  wreck,  days  after 
the  loss  of  their  vessel  ?  and  you  can  see,  with 
your  own  eyes,  that  the  falling  water  has  swept 
the  planks  this  distance ;  ay,  a  good  half  league 
from  where  she  struck.  Does  the  look-out,  from 
the  top  of  the  cliffs,  make  no  signal  of  seeing  him 
yet  ?" 

"None,  sir,  none;  we  shall  never  see  him 
again.  The  men  say,  that  he  always  thought  it 
sinful  to  desert  a  wreck,  and  that  he  did  not  even 
strike-out  once  for  his  life,  though  he  has  been 
known  to  swim  an  hour,  when  a  whale  has  stove 
his  boat.  God  knows,  sir,"  added  the  boy,  hastily 
dashing  a  tear  from  his  eye,  by  a  stolen  movement 
of  his  hand,  "  I  loved  Tom  Coffin  better  than  any 
foremast-man  in  either  vessel.  You  seldom  came 
aboard  the  frigate  but  we  had  him  in  the  steerage 
among  us  reefers,  to  hear  his  long-yarns,  and  share 
our  cheer.  We  all  loved  him,  Mr.  Barnstable,  but 
love  cannot  bring  the  dead  to  life  again." 

"  I  know  it,  I  know  it,"  said  Barnstable,  with 
a  huskiness  in  his  voice,  that  betrayed  the  depth 
of  his  emotion.  "  I  am  not  so  foolish  as  to  be 
lieve  in  impossibilities ;  but  while  there  is  a  hope 
of  his  living,  I  will  never  abandon  poor  Tom 
Coffin  to  such  a  dreadful  fate.  Think,  boy,  he 
may,  at  this  moment,  be  looking  at  us,  and  pray 
ing  to  his  Maker  that  he  would  turn  our  eyes  upon 
him ;  ay,  praying  to  his  God,  for  Tom  often  pray- 


380  THE    PILOT. 

ed,  though  he  did  it  in  his  watch,  standing,  and  in 
silence." 

"  If  he  had  clung  to  liie  so  strongly,"  returned 
the  midshipman,  "  he  would  have  struggled  harder 
to  preserve  it." 

Barnstable  stopped  short  in  his  hurried  walk, 
and  fastened  a  look  of  opening  conviction  on  his 
companion ;  but,  as  he  was  about  to  speak  in  re 
ply,  the  shouts  of  the  seamen  reached  his  ears,  and, 
turning,  they  saw  the  whole  party  running  along 
the  beach,  and  motioning,  with  violent  gestures,  to 
an  intermediate  point  in  the  ocean.  The  lieutenant 
and  Merry  hurried  back,  and,  as  they  approached 
the  men,  they  distinctly  observed  a  human  figure, 
borne  along  by  the  waves,  at  moments,  seeming 
to  rise  above  them,  and  already  floating  in  the  last 
of  the  breakers.  They  had  hardly  ascertained  so 
much,  when  a  heavy  swell  carried  the  inanimate 
body  far  upon  the  sands,  where  it  was  left  by  the 
retiring  waters. 

"  'Tis  my  cockswain !"  cried  Barnstable,  rush 
ing  to  the  spot.  He  stopped  suddenly,  however, 
as  he  came  within  view  of  the  features,  and  it  was 
some  little  time  before  he  appeared  to  have  col 
lected  his  faculties  sufficiently  to  add,  in  tones  of 
deep  horror — "  what  wretch  is  this,  boy  !  his  form 
is  unmutilated,  and  yet  observe  the  eyes!  they 
seem  as  if  the  sockets  would  not  contain  them,  and 
they  gaze  as  wildly  as  if  their  owner  yet  had  life 
— the  hands  are  open  and  spread,  as  though  they 
would  still  buffet  the  waves  ?" 

"  The  Jonah  !  the  Jonah  !"  shouted  the  seamen, 
with  savage  exultation,  as  they  successively  ap 
proached  the  corpse  ;  "  away  with  his  carrion 
into  the  sea  again !  give  him  to  the  sharks  !  let 
him  tell  his  lies  in  the  claws  of  the  lobsters !" 

Bamstable  had  turned  away  from  the  revolting 


THE    PILOT.  381 

sight,  in  disgust ;  but  when  he  discos  ered  these 
indications  of  impotent  revenge,  in  the  remnant 
of  his  crew,  he  said,  in  that  voice,  which  all  re 
spected,  and  still  obeyed — 

"  Stand  back  !  back  with  ye,  fellows  !  would 
you  disgrace  your  manhood  and  seamanship,  by 
wreaking  your  vengeance  on  him  whom  God 
has  already  in  judgment!"  A  silent,  but  signifi 
cant  gesture  towards  the  earth,  succeeded  his 
words,  and  he  walked  slowly  away. 

"  Bury  him  in  the  sands,  boys,"  said  Merry, 
when  his  commander  was  at  some  little  distance  ; 
"  the  next  tide  will  unearth  him." 

The  seamen  obeyed  his  orders,  while  the  mid 
shipman  rejoined  his  commander,  who  continued 
to  pace  along  the  beach,  occasionally  halting,  to 
throw  his  uneasy  glances  over  the  water,  and 
then  hurrying  onward,  at  a  rate  that  caused  his 
youthful  companion  to  exert  his  greatest  power 
to  maintain  the  post  he  had  taken  at  his  side. 
Every  effort  to  discover  the  lost  cockswain  was, 
however,  after  two  hours'  more  search,  abandon 
ed  as  fruitless ;  and  with  reason,  for  the  sea  was 
never  known  to  give  up  the  body  of  the  man  who 
might  be  emphatically  called  its  own  dead. 

"  There  goes  the  sun,  already  dropping  behind 
the  cliffs,"  said  the  lieutenant,  throwing  himself 
on  a  rock  ;  "  and  the  hour  will  soon  arrive  to 
set  the  dog-watches  ;  but  we  have  nothing  left  to 
watch  over,  boy ;  the  surf  and  rocks  have  not 
even  left  us  a  whole  plank,  that  we  may  lay  our 
heads  on  for  the  night." 

"  The  men  have  gathered  many  articles  on 
yon  beach,  sir,"  returned  the  lad  ;  "  they  have 
found  arms  to  defend  ourselves  with,  and  food  to 
give  us  strength  to  use  them." 

"  And  who  shall  be  our  enemy  ?  asked  Barn- 


382  THE  PILOT. 

stable,  bitterly ;  "  shall  we  shoulder  our  dozen 
pikes,  and  carry  England  by  boarding  ?" 

"  We  may  not  lay  the  whole  island  under  con 
tribution,"  continued  the  boy,  anxiously  watching 
the  expression  of  his  commander's  eye  ;  "  but 
we  may  still  keep  ourselves  in  work,  until  the 
cutter  returns  from  the  frigate.  I  hope,  sir,  you 
do  not  think  our  case  so  desperate,  as  to  intend 
yielding  as  prisoners." 

"  Prisoners  !"  exclaimed  the  lieutenant ;  "  no, 
no,  lad,  it  has  not  got  to  that,  yet !  England  has 
been  able  to  wreck  my  craft,  I  must  concede,  but 
she  has,  as  yet,  obtained  no  other  advantage 
over  us.  She  was  a  precious  model,  Merry  !  the 
cleanest  run,  and  the  neatest  entrance,  that  art 
ever  united  on  the  stem  and  stern  of  the  same 
vessel  !  Do  you  remember  the  time,  younker, 
when  I  gave  the  frigate  my  topsails,  in  beating 
out  of  the  Chesapeake  ?  I  could  always  do  it,  in 
smooth  water,  with  a  whole-sail-breeze.  But  she 
was  a  frail  thing !  a  frail  thing,  boy,  and  could 
bear  but  little." 

"  A  mortar  ketch  would  have  thumped  to  pieces 
where  she  lay,"  returned  the  midshipman. 

"  Ay,  it  was  asking  too  much  of  her,  to  expect 
she  could  hold  together  on  a  bed  of  rocks.  Merry, 
I  loved  her ;  dearly  did  I  love  her ;  she  was  my 
first  command,  and  I  knew  and  loved  every  timber 
and  bolt  in  her  beautiful  frame  !" 

"  I  believe  it  is  as  natural,  sir,  for  a  seaman  to 
love  the  wood  and  iron  in  which  he  ^has  floated 
over  the  depths  of  the  ocean,  for  so  many  days 
and  nights,"  rejoined  the  boy,  "  as  it  is  for  a 
father  to  love  the  members  of  his  own  family." 

"  Quite,  quite,  ay,  more  so,"  said  Barnstable, 
speaking  as  if  he  were  choked  by  emotion. 
Merry  felt  the  heavy  grasp  of  the  lieutenant  on 


THE    PILOT.  383 

his  slight  arm,  while  his  commander  continued, 
in  a  voice  that  gradually  increased  in  power,  as 
his  feelings  predominated ;  "  and  yet,  boy,  a  hu 
man  being  cannot  love  the  creature  of  his  own 
formation  as  he  does  the  works  of  God.  A  man 
can  never  regard  his  ship  as  he  does  his  ship 
mates.  I  sailed  with  him,  boy,  when  every  thing 
seemed  bright  and  happy,  as  at  your  age  ;  when, 
as  he  often  expressed  it,  I  knew  nothing  and  fear 
ed  nothing.  I  was  then  a  truant  from  an  old  fa 
ther  and  a  kind  mother,  and  he  did  that  for  me, 
which  no  parents  could  have  done  in  my  situa 
tion — he  was  my  father  and  mother  on  the  deep  ! — • 
hours,  days,  even  monihs,  has  he  passed  in  teach 
ing  me  the  art  of  our  profession  ;  and  now,  in  my 
manhood,  he  has  followed  me  from  ship  to  ship, 
from  sea  to  sea,  and  has  only  quitted  me  to  die, 
where  I  should  have  died — as  if  he  felt  the  dis 
grace  of  abandoning  the  poor  Ariel  to  her  fate,  by 
herself!" 

"  No — no — no —  'twas  his  superstitious  pride  !" 
interrupted  Merry ;  but  perceiving  that  the  head 
of  Barnstable  had  sunk  between  his  hands,  as  if 
he  would  conceal  his  emotion,  the  boy  added  no 
more  ;  but  he  sat  respectfully  watching  the  display 
of  feeling  that  his  officer,  in  vain,  endeavoured  to 
suppress.  Merry  felt  his  own  form  quiver  with 
sympathy  at  the  shuddering  which  passed  through 
Barnstable's  frame  ;  and  the  relief  experienced  by 
the  lieutenant  himself  was  not  greater  than  that 
which  the  midshipman  felt,  as  the  latter  beheld 
large  tears  forcing  their  way  through  the  other's 
fingers,  and  falling  on  the  sands  at  his  feet.  They 
were  followed  by  a  violent  burst  of  emotion,  such 
as  is  seldom  exhibited  in  the  meridian  of  life,  but 
which,  when  it  conquers  the  nature  of  one  who  has 
buffeted  the  chances  of  the  world  with  the  loftiness 


384  THE    PILOT. 

of  his  sex  and  character,  breaks  down  every  bar 
rier,  and  seems  to  sweep  before  it,  like  a  rushing 
torrent,  all  the  factitious  defences  which  habit  and 
education  have  created  to  protect  the  pride  of  man 
hood.  Merry  had  often  beheld  the  commanding 
severity  of  the  lieutenant's  manner,  in  moments  of 
danger,  with  deep  respect ;  he  had  been  drawn  to 
wards  him  by  kindness  and  affection,  in  times 
of  gaiety  and  recklessness ;  but  he  now  sate  for 
many  minutes,  profoundly  silent,  regarding  his  of 
ficer  with  sensations  that  were  nearly  allied  to  awe. 
The  struggle  with  himself  was  long  and  severe 
in  the  bosom  of  Barnstable ;  but,  at  length,  the 
calm  of  relieved  passions  succeeded  to  his  emo 
tion.  When  he  arose  from  the  rock,  and  remov 
ed  his  hands  from  his  features,  his  eye  was  hard 
and  proud,  his  brow  slightly  contracted,  and  he 
spoke  in  a  voice  so  harsh,  that  it  startled  his  com 
panion — 

"  Come,  sir ;  why  are  we  here  and  idle  !  are 
not  yon  poor  fellows  looking  up  to  us  for  advice 
and  orders  how  to  proceed  in  this  exigency  ? 
Away,  away,  Mr.  Merry  ;  it  is  not  a  time  to  be 
drawing  figures  in  the  sand  with  your  dirk  ;  the 
flood-tide  will  soon  be  in,  and  we  may  be  glad  to 
hide  our  heads  in  some  cavern  among  these  rocks 
Let  us  be  stirring,  sir,  while  we  have  the  sun,  and 
muster  enough  food  and  arms  to  keep  life  in  us, 
and  our  enemies  off  us,  until  we  can  once  more  get 
afloat." 

The  wondering  boy,  whose  experience  had  not 
yet  taught  him  to  appreciate  the  reaction  of  the 
passions,  started  at  this  unexpected  summons 
to  his  duty,  and  followed  Barnstable  towards  the 
group  of  distant  seamen.  The  lieutenant,  who  was 
instantly  conscious  how  far  pride  had  rendered 
him  unjust,  soon  moderated  his  long  strides,  and 


THE    PILOT.  385 

continued  in  milder  tones,  which  were  quickly  con 
verted  into  his  usual  frank  communications,  though 
they  still  remained  tinged  with  a  melancholy)  that 
time  only  could  entirely  remove — 

"  We  have  been  unlucky,  Mr.  Merry,  but  we 
need  not  despair — these  lads  have  gotten  together 
abundance  of  supplies,  I  see  ;  and,  with  our  arms, 
we  can  easily  make  ourselves  masters  of  some  of 
the  enemy's  smaller  craft,  and  find  our  way  back 
to  the  frigate,  when  this  gale  has  blown  itself  out. 
We  must  keep  ourselves  close,  though,  or  we  shall 
have  the  red-coats  coming  down  upon  us,  like  so 
many  sharks  around  a  wreck.  Ah  !  God  bless 
her,  Merry  !  there  is  not  such  a  sight  to  be  seen  on 
the  whole  beach  as  two  of  her  planks  holding  to 
gether." 

The  midshipman,  without  adverting  to  this  sud 
den  allusion  to  their  vessel,  prudently  pursued  the 
train  of  ideas,  in  which  his  commander  had  start 
ed. 

"  There  is  an  opening  into  the  country,  but  a 
short  distance  south  of  us,  where  a  brook  empties 
into  the  sea,"  he  said.  "  We  might  find  a  cover 
in  it,  or  in  the  wood  above,  into  which  it  leads,  un 
til  we  can  have  a  survey  of  the  coast,  or  can  seize 
some  vessel  to  carry  us  off." 

"  There  would  be  a  satisfaction  in  waiting  till 
the  morning  watch,  and  then  carrying  that  ac 
cursed  battery,  which  took  off  the  better  leg  of 
the  poor  Ariel!"  said  the  lieutenant — "  the  thing 
might  be  done,  boy ;  and  we  could  hold  the  work 
too,  until  the  Alacrity  and  the  frigate  draw  in  to 
land." 

"  If  you  prefer  storming  works  to  boarding  ves 
sels,  there  is  a  fortress  of  stone,  Mr.  Barnstable, 
which  lies  directly  on  our  beam.  I  could  see  it 
33 


386  THE    PILOT. 

through  the  haze,  when  I  was  on  the  cliffs,  station 
ing  the  look-out — and — " 

"  And  what,  boy  ?  speak  without  a  fear  ;  this  is 
a  time  for  free  consultation." 

"  Why,  sir,  the  garrison  might  not  all  be  hos 
tile — we  should  liberate  Mr.  Griffith  and  the  ma 
rine  ;  besides — " 

"  Besides  what,  sir  ?" 

"  I  should  have  an  opportunity,  perhaps,  of  see 
ing  my  cousin  Cecilia,  and  my  cousin  Katherine." 

The  countenance  of  Barnstable  grew  animated 
as  he  listened,  and  he  answered  with  something  of 
his  usual  cheerful  manner — 

"  Ay,  that,  indeed,  would  be  a  work  worth  car 
rying  !  and  the  rescuing  of  our  shipmates,  and  the 
marines,  would  read  like  a  thing  of  military  discre 
tion — ha !  hoy !  all  the  rest  would  be  incidental, 
younker ;  like  the  capture  of  the  fleet,  after  you 
have  whipped  the  convoy." 

"  I  do  suppose,  sir,  that  if  the  Abbey  be  taken, 
Colonel  Howard  will  own  himself  a  prisoner  of 
war." 

c<  And  Colonel  Howard's  wards !  now  there  is 
good  sense  in  this  scheme  of  thine,  Master  Merry, 
and  I  will  give  it  proper  reflection.  But  here  are 
our  poor  fellows ;  speak  cheeringly  to  them,  sir, 
that  we  may  hold  them  in  temper  for  our  enter 
prise." 

Barnstable  and  the  midshipman  joined  their 
shipwrecked  companions,  with  that  air  of  autho 
rity  which  is  seldom  wanting  between  the  superior 
and  the  inferior,  in  nautical  intercourse,  but  at 
the  same  time,  with  a  kindness  of  speech  and 
looks,  that  might  have  been  a  little  increased  by 
their  ciitical  situation.  After  partaking  of  the 
food  which  had  been  selected  from  among  the 


THE    PILOT.  387 

fragments  that  still  lay  scattered,  for  more  than 
a  mile,  along  the  beach,  the  lieutenant  diiected 
the  seamen  to  arm  themselves  with  such  wea 
pons  as  offered,  and,  also,  to  make  sufficient  pro 
vision,  from  the  schooner's  stores,  to  last  them  for 
four-and-twentj  hours  longer.  These  orders  were 
soon  executed  ;  and  the  whole  party,  led  by 
Barnstable  and  Merry,  proceeded  along  the  foot 
of  the  cliffs,  in  quest  of  the  opening  in  the  rocks, 
through  which  the  little  rivulet  found  a  passage 
to  the  ocean.  The  weather  contributed,  as  much 
as  the  seclusion  of  the  spot,  to  prevent  any  dis 
covery  of  the  small  party,  which  pursued  its  ob 
ject  with  a  disregard  of  caution  that  might, 
under  other  circumstances,  have  proved  fatal 
to  its  safety.  Barnstable  paused  in  his  march 
when  they  had  all  entered  the  deep  ravine,  and 
ascended  nearly  to  the  biow  of  the  precipice,  that 
formed  one  of  its  sides,  to  take  a  last  and  more 
scrutinizing  survey  of  the  sea.  His  countenance 
exhibited  the  abandonment  of  all  hope,  as  his  eye 
moved  slowly  from  the  northern  to  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  horizon,  and  he  prepared  to  pur 
sue  his  march,  by  moving,  reluctantly,  up  the 
stream,  when  the  boy,  who  still  clung  to  his  side, 
exclaimed  joyously — 

"  Sail  ho  !  It  must  be  the  frigate  in  the  of 
fing  !» 

"  A  sail !"  repeated  his  commander  ;  "  where- 
away  do  you  see  a  sail  in  this  tempest  ?  Can  there 
be  another  as  hardy  and  unfortunate  as  our 
selves  !" 

"  Look  to  the  starboard  hand  of  the  point  ot 
rock  to  windward !"  cried  the  boy ;  "  now  you 
lose  it — ah  !  now  the  sun  falls  upon  it !  'tis  a  sail, 
sir,  as  sure  as  canvass  can  be  spread  in  such  a 
gale !" 


388  THE    PILOT 

u  I  see  what  you  mean,"  returned  the  other, 
"  but  it  seems  a  gull,  skimming  the  sea !  nay,  now 
it  rises,  indeed,  and  shows  itself  like  a  bellying 
topsail:  pass  up  that  glass,  lads;  here  is  a  fellow 
in  the  offing  who  may  prove  a  friend." 

Merry  waited  the  result  of  the  lieutenant's  ex* 
amination  with  youthful  impatience,  and  did  not 
fail  to  ask,  immediately — 

"  Can  you  make  it  out,  sir  ?  is  it  the  ship  or  the 
cutter?" 

"  Come,  there  seemeth  yet  some  hope  left  for  us, 
boy,"  returned  Barnstable,  closing  the  glass ;  (C  'tis  a 
ship  lying-to  under  her  main-topsail.  If  one  might 
but  dare  to  show  himself  on  these  heights,  he  would 
raise  her  hull,  and  make  sure  of  her  character ! 
But  I  think  I  know  her  spars,  though  even  her  top 
sail  dips,  at  times,  when  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen 
but  her  bare  poles  ;  and  they  shortened  by  her  top 
gallant-masts." 

"  One  would  swear,"  said  Merry,  laughing,  as 
much  through  the  excitement  produced  by  this  in 
telligence,  as  at  his  conceit,  "  that  Captain  Mun- 
son  would  never  carry  wood  aloft,  when  he  can't 
carry  canvass.  I  remember,  one  night,  Mr.  Grif 
fith  was  a  little  vexed,  and  said,  around  the  cap 
stan,  he  believed  the  next  order  would  be,  to  rig 
in  the  bowsprit,  and  house  lower-masts  !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  Griffith  is  a  lazy  dog,  and  some 
times  gets  lost  in  the  fogs  of  his  own  thoughts,'' 
said  Barnstable  ;  "  and  I  suppose  old  Moderate 
was  in  a  breeze.  However,  this  looks  as  if  he 
were  in  earnest ;  he  must  have  kept  the  ship 
away,  or  she  would  never  have  been  where  she  is ; 
I  do  verily  believe  the  old  gentleman  remembers 
that  he  has  a  few  of  his  officers  and  men  on  this 
accursed  island.  This  is  well,  Merry,  for  should 


THE    PILOT.  389 

we  take  the  Abbey,  we  have  a  place  at  hand  in 
which  to  put  our  prisoners." 

"  We  must  have  patience  till  the  morning," 
added  the  boy,  "  for  no  boat  would  attempt  to 
land  in  such  a  sea." 

"  No  boat  could  land  !  The  best  boat  that  ever 
floated,  boy,  has  sunk  in  these  breakers  !  But  the 
wind  lessens,  and  before  morning  the  sea  will  fall. 
Let  us  on,  and  find  a  birth  for  our  poor  lads,  where 
they  can  be  made  more  comfortable." 

The  two  officers  now  descended  from  their 
elevation,  and  led  the  way  still  further  up  the 
deep  and  narrow  dell,  until,  as  the  ground  rose 
gradually  before  them,  they  found  themselves 
in  a  dense  wood,  on  a  level  with  the  adjacent 
country. 

"  Here  should  be  a  ruin  at  hand,  if  I  have  kept 
a  true  reckoning,  and  know  my  courses  and  dis 
tances,"  said  Barnstable ;  "  I  have  a  chart  about 
me,  that  speaks  of  such  a  land-mark." 

The  lieutenant  turned  away  from  the  laughing 
expression  of  the  boy's  eye,  as  .the  latter  archly 
inquired — 

"  Was  it  made  by  one  who  knows  the  coast 
well,  sir  ?  <5r  was  it  done  by  some  school-boy,  to 
learn  his  maps,  as  the  girls  work  samplers  .p" 

"  Come,  younker,  no  sampler  of  your  impu 
dence.  But  look  ahead  ;  can  you  see  any  habita 
tion  that  has  been  deserted  ?" 

"  Ay,  sir,  here  is  a  pile  of  stones  before  us, 
that  looks  as  dirty  and  ragged,  as  if  it  was  a 
soldier's  barrack ;  can  this  be  what  you  seek  ?" 

"  Faith,  this  has  been  a  whole  town  in  its  day  ! 

we  should  call  it  a  city  in  America,  and  furnish 

it  with  a  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Recorder — you 

might  stow  old  Faneuil-Hall  in  one  of  its  lockers." 

With    this    sort   of   careless    dialogue,   which 

33* 


390  THE    PILOT. 

Barnstable  engaged  in,   that  his  men   might  dis 
cover  no  alteration  in  his  manner,  they  approach 
ed  the  mouldering  walls  that  had  proved  so  frail  a 
protection  to  the  party  under  Griffith. 

A  short  time  was  passed  in  examining  the  pre 
mises,  when  the  wearied  seamen  took  possession 
of  one  of  the  dilapidated  apartments,  and  dispos 
ed  themselves  to  seek  that  rest  of  which  they  had 
been  deprived  by  the  momentous  occurrences  of 
the  past  night. 

Barnstable  waited  until  the  loud  breathing  of 
the  seamen  assured  him  that  they  slept,  when  he 
aroused  the  drowsy  boy,  who  wras  fast  losing  his 
senses  in  the  same  sort  of  oblivion,  and  motioned 
to  him  to  follow.  Merry  arose,  and  they  stole 
together  from  the  apartment,  with  guarded  steps, 
and  penetrated  more  deeply  into  the  gloomy  re 
cesses  of  the  place. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


Mercury— "  I  permit  thee  to  be  Soaia  again. 

Dryden. 


WE  must  leave  the  two  adventurers  winding 
their  way  among  the  broken  piles,  and  venturing 
boldly  beneath  the  tottering  arches  of  the  ruin,  to 
accompany  tne  reader,  at  the  same  hour,  within  the 
more  comfortable  walls  of  the  Abbey ;  where,  it 
will  be  remembered,  Borroughcliffe  was  left,  in  a 
condition  of  very  equivocal  ease.  As  the  earth 
had,  however,  in  the  interval,  nearly  run  its  daily 
round,  circumstances  had  intervened  to  release 
the  soldier  from  his  confinement — and  no  one, 
ignorant  of  the  fact,  would  suppose,  that  the  gen 
tleman  who  was  now  seated  at  the  hospitable 
board  of  Colonel  Howard,  directing  with  so 
much  discretion,  the  energies  of  his  masticators 
to  the  delicacies  of  the  feast,  could  read,  in  his 
careless  air  and  smiling  visage,  that  those  fora 
gers  of  nature  had  been  so  recently  condemned, 
for  four  long  hours,  to  the  mortification  of  dis 
cussing  the  barren  subject  of  his  own  sword-hilt. 
Borroughcliffe,  however,  maintained  not  only  his 
usual  post,  but  his  well-earned  reputation  at  the 
table,  with  his  ordinary  coolness  of  demeanoui  • 
though,  at  times  there  were  fleeting  smiles,  that 
11* 


392  THE    PILOT. 

crossed  his  military  aspect,  which  sufficiently  in 
dicated,  that  he  considered  the  matter  of  his  re 
flection  to  be  of  a  particularly  ludicrous  character. 
In  the  young  man,  who  sat  by  his  side,  dressed 
in  the  deep  blue  jacket  of  a  seaman,  with  the  fine, 
white  linen  of  his  collar  contrasting  strongly 
with  the  black  silk  handkerchief,  that  was  tied, 
with  studied  negligence,  around  his  neck,  and 
whose  easy  air  and  manner  contrasted  still  more 
strongly  with  this  attire,  the  reader  will  discover 
Griffith.  The  captive  paid  much  less  devotion 
to  the  viands  than  his  neighbour,  though  he  af 
fected  more  attention  to  the  business  of  the  table 
than  he  actually  bestowed,  with  a  sort  of  con 
sciousness  that  it  would  relieve  the  blushing  maid 
en  who  presided.  The  laughing  eyes  of  Ka- 
therine  Plowden  were  glittering  by  the  side  of  the 
mild  countenance  of  Alice  Dunscombe,  and,  at 
times,  were  fastened,  in  droll  interest,  on  the  rigid 
and  upright  exterior  that  Captain  Manual  main 
tained,  directly  opposite  to  where  she  was  seated. 
A  chair  had,  also,  been  placed  for  Dillon — of 
course,  it  was  vacant. 

"  And  so,  Borroughcliffe,"  cried  Colonel  How 
ard,  with  a  freedom  of  voice,  and  a  vivacity  in  his 
air,  that  announced  the  increasing  harmony  of  the 
repast,  "  the  sea-dog  left  you  nothing  to  chew  but 
the  cud  of  your  resentment !" 

"  That  and  my  sword-hilt !"  returned  the  im- 
moveable  recruiting  officer.  "  Gentlemen,  I  know 
not  how  your  Congress  rewards  military  achieve 
ments  ;  but  if  that  worthy  fellow  were  in  my  com 
pany,  he  should  have  a  halberd  within  a  week — • 
spurs  I  would  not  offer  him,  for  he  affects  to  spurn 
their  use." 

Griffith   smiled,  and   bowed  in    silence  to   the 


•iiii:   PILOT.  393 

liberal  compliment  of  Bbrrougkclifle  ;  out  Manual 
took  on  himself  the  taj»i  of  replying — 

u  Considering  the  drilling  the  man  has  received, 
nis  conduct  has  been  well  enough,  sir ;  though  a 
well-trained  soldier  would  not  only  have  made  pri 
soners,  but  he  would  have  secured  them." 

"  I  perceive,  my  good  comrade,  that  your 
thoughts  are  running  on  the  exchange,"  said  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  good  humouredly ;  "  we  will  fill,  sir, 
and,  by  permission  of  the  ladies,  drink  to  a  speedy- 
restoration  of  rights  to  both  parties — the  statu  quo 
ante  bellum." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  cried  the  colonel ;  "  and 
Cicily  and  Miss  Katherine  will  pledge  the  senti 
ment  in  a  woman's  sip;  will  ye  not,  my  fair 
wards  ? — Mr.  Griffith,  I  honour  this  proposition 
of  yours,  which  will  not  only  liberate  yourself,  but 
restore  to  us  my  kinsmen,  Mr.  Christopher  Dil 
lon.  Kit  had  imagined  the  thing  well,  ha !  Bor- 
roughcliffe  !  'twas  ingeniously  contrived,  but  the 
fortune  of  war  interposed  itself  to  his  success ;  and 
yet,  it  is  a  deep  and  inexplicable  mystery  to  me,  how 
Kit  should  have  been  conveyed  from  the  Abbey 
with  so  little  noise,  and  without  raising  the  alarm." 

"  Christopher  is  a  man  who  understands  the 
philosophy  of  silence,  as  well  as  that  of  rheto 
ric,"  returned  Borroughclifie,  "  and  must  have 
learned,  in  his  legal  studies,  that  it  is  sometimes 
necessary  to  conduct  matters  sub  silentio.  You 
smile  at  my  Latin,  Miss  Plowden ;  but,  really, 
svnce  I  have  become  an  inhabitant  of  this  Monk 
ish  abode,  my  little  learning  is  stimulated  to  un 
wonted  efforts — nay,  you  are  pleased  to  be  yet  more 
merry !  I  used  the  language,  because  silence  is  a 
theme  in  which  you  ladies  take  but  little  pleasure." 
Katherine,  however,  disregarded  the  slight 
pique  that  wras  apparent  in  the  soldier's  manner 


394  THE    PILOT 

but,  after  following  the  train  of  her  own  thoughts 
in  silent  enjoyment  for  a  moment  longer,  she  seem 
ed  to  yield  to  their  drollery,  and  laughed,  until  her 
dark  eyes  flashed  with  merriment.  Cecilia  did  not 
assume  the  severe  gravity  with  which  she  some 
times  endeavoured  to  repress,  what  she  thought, 
the  unseasonable  mirth  of  her  cousin,  and  the  won 
dering  Griffith  fancied,  as  he  glanced  his  eye  from 
one  to  the  other,  that  he  could  discern  a  suppressed 
smile  playing  among  the  composed  features  of  Alice 
Dunscombe.  Katherine,  however,  soon  succeeded 
in  repressing  the  paroxysm,  and,  with  an  air  of  in 
finitely  comic  gravity,  she  replied  to  the  remark  of 
the  soldier — 

"  I  think  I  have  heard  of  such  a  process  in  nau 
tical  affairs  as  towing ;  but  I  must  appeal  to  Mr. 
Griffith,  for  the  correctness  of  the  term  ?" 

"  You  could  not  speak  with  more  accuracy,"  re 
turned  the  young  sailor,  with  a  look  that  sent  the 
conscious  blood  to  the  temples  of  the  lady,  "  though 
you  had  made  marine  terms  your  study." 

"  The  profession  requires  less  thought,  perhaps, 
than  you  imagine,  sir ;  but  is  this  towing  often 
done,  as  Captain  Borroughcliffe — I  beg  his  pardon 
— as  the  Monks  have  it,  sub  silentio  f " 

"  Spare  me,  fair  lady,"  cried  the  captain,  "  and 
we  will  establish  a  compact  of  mutual  grace ;  you 
to  forgive  my  learning,  and  I  to  suppress  my  sus 
picions." 

"  Suspicions,  sir,  is  a  word  that  a  lady  must 
defy." 

"  And  defiance  a  challenge  that  a  soldier  can 
never  receive ;  so,  I  must  submit  to  talk  English, 
though  the  fathers  of  the  church  were  my  compa 
nions.  I  suspect  that  Miss  Plowden  has  it  in  her 
power  to  explain  the  manner  of  Mr.  Christopher 
Dillon's  departure." 


THfc    tiLOT.  395 

The  lady  did  not  reply,  but  a  second  burst  of 
merriment  succeeded,  of  a  liveliness  and  duration 
quite  equal  to  the  former. 

"  How's  this  !"  exclaimed  the  colonel ;  "  per 
mit  me  to  say,  Miss  Plowden,  your  mirth  is  very 
extraordinary  '.  I  trust  no  disrespect  has  been  offer 
ed  to  my  kinsman  ?  Mr.  Griffith,  our  terms  are, 
that  the  exchange  shall  only  be  made  on  condition 
that  equally  good  treatment  has  been  extended  to 
the  parties !" 

"  If  Mr.  Dillon  can  complain  of  no  greater  evil 
than  that  of  being  laughed  at  by  Miss  Plowden,  sir, 
he  has  reason  to  call  himself  a  happy  fellow." 

"  I  know  not,  sir ;  God  forbid  that  I  should  for 
get  what  is  due  to  my  guests,  gentlemen — but  ye 
have  entered  my  dwelling  as  foes  to  my  prince." 

"  But  not  to  Colonel  Howard,  sir." 

"  I  know  no  difference,  Mr.  Griffith.  King 
George  or  Colonel  Howard — Colonel  Howard  or 
King  George.  Our  feelings,  our  fortunes,  and 
our  fate,  is  as  one  ;  with  the  mighty  odds  that  Pro 
vidence  has  established  between  the  prince  and  his 
people  !  I  wish  no  other  fortune,  than  to  share,  at 
an  humble  distance,  the  weal  or  wo  of  my  sove 
reign  !" 

"  You  are  not  called  upon,  dear  sir,  to  do  either, 
by  the  thoughtlessness  of  us  ladies,"  said  Cecilia, 
rising ;  "  but  here  comes  one  who  should  turn  our 
thoughts  to  a  more  important  subject — our  dress." 

Politeness  induced  Colonel  Howard,  who  both 
loved  and  respected  his  niece,  to  defer  his  re 
marks  to  another  time  ;  and  Katherine,  springing 
from  her  chair,  with  childish  eagerness,  flew  to 
the  side  of  her  cousin,  who  was  directing  a 
servant  that  had  announced  the  arrival  of  one 
of  those  erratic  venders  of  small  articles,  who 
supply,  in  remote  districts  of  the  country,  the  pla- 


396  THE    PILOT. 

ces  of  more  regular  traders,  to  show  the  lad  into 
the  dining-parlour.  The  repast  was  so  far  ended, 
as  to  render  this  interruption  less  objectionable, 
and  as  all  felt  the  object  of  Cecilia  to  be  the  res 
toration  of  harmony,  the  boy  was  ushered  into 
the  room,  without  further  delay.  The  contents 
of  his  small  basket,  consisting  chiefly  of  essen 
ces,  "and  the  smaller  articles  of  female  economy, 
were  playfully  displayed  on  the  table,  by  Katherine, 
who  declared  herself  the  patroness  of  the  itine 
rant  youth,  and  who  laughingly  appealed  to  the 
liberality  of  the  gentlemen  in  behalf  of  her  pro 
tegee. 

"  You  perceive,  my  dear  guardian,  that  the  boy 
must  be  loyal ;  for  he  offers,  here,  perfume,  that  is 
patronised  by  no  less  than  two  royal  dukes?  do 
suffer  me  to  place  a  box  aside,  for  your  especial 
use  ?  you  consent  ^  I  see  it  in  your  eye.  And, 
Captain  Borroughcliffe,  as  you  appear  to  be  for 
getting  the  use  of  your  own  language,  here  is  even 
a  horn-bock  for  you  !  How  admirably  provided 
he  seems  to  be  !  You  must  have  had  St.  Ruth  in 
view,  when  you  laid  in  your  stock,  child  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  lady,"  the  boy  replied,  with  a  bow 
that  was  studiously  awkward  ;  "  I  have  often  heard 
of  the  grand  ladies  that  dwell  in  the  old  Abbey, 
and  I  have  journeyed  a  few  miles  beyond  my  rounds, 
to  gain  their  custom." 

"  And  surely  they  cannot  disappoint  you.  Miss 
Howard,  that  is  a  palpable  hint  to  your  purse ;  and 
I  know  not  that  even  Miss  Alice  can  escape  con 
tribution,  in  these  troublesome  times.  Come,  aid 
me,  child ;  what  have  you  to  recommend,  in  parti 
cular,  to  the  favour  of  these  ladies  ?" 

The  lad  approached  the  basket,  and  rummaged 
its  contents,  for  a  moment,  with  the  appearance 
of  deep,  mercenary  interest ;  and  then,  without 


THE    PILOT.  397 

lifting  his  hand  from  the  confusion  he  had  caused, 
he  said,  while  he  exhibited  something  within  the 
basket  to  the  view  of  his  smiling  observer — 

"  This,  my  lady." 

Katherine  started,  and  glanced  her  eye,  with  a 
piercing  look,  at  the  countenance  of  the  boy,  and 
then  turned  them,  uneasily,  from  face  to  face, 
with  conscious  timidity.  Cecilia  had  effected 
her  object,  and  had  resumed  her  seat,  in  silent 
abstraction — Alice  was  listening  to  the  remarks 
of  Captain  Manual  and  the  host,  as  they  dis 
cussed  the  propriety  of  certain  military  usages — 
Griffith  seemed  to  hold  communion  with  his 
mistress,  by  imitating  her  silence ;  but  Katherine, 
in  her  stolen  glances,  met  the  keen  look  of  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  fastened  on  her  face,  in  a  manner  that 
did  not  fail  instantly  to  suspend  the  scrutiny. 

"  Come,  Cecilia,"  she  cried,  after  a  pause  of 
a  moment,  "  we  trespass  too  long  on  the  patience 
of  the  gentlemen ;  not  only  to  keep  possession  of 
our  seats,  ten  minutes  after  the  cloth  has  been 
drawn  !  but  even  to  introduce  our  essences,  and 
tapes,  and  needles,  among  the  Madeira,  and — shall 
I  add,  segars,  colonel  ?" 

"  Not  while  we  are  favoured  with  the  company 
of  Miss  Plow7den,  certainly." 

u  Come,  my  coz ;  I  perceive  the  colonel  is 
growing  particularly  polite,  which  is  a  neverfailing 
sign  that  he  tires  of  our  presence." 

Cecilia  rose,  and  wTas  leading  the  way  to  the 
door,  when  Katherine  turned  to  the  lad,  and 
added-- 

"  You  can  follow  us  to  the  drawing-room,  child, 
where  we  can  make  our  purchases,  without  expos 
ing  the  mystery  of  our  toilets." 

"  Miss  Plowden  has  forgotten  my  horn-book, 
1  believe,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  advancing  from 
34 


398  THE    PILOT. 

the  standing  group  who  surrounded  the  table , 
u  possibly  I  can  find  some  work  in  the  basket 
of  the  boy,  better  fitted  for  the  improvement  of 
a  grown-up  young  gentleman  than  this  elementary 
treatise." 

Cecilia,  observing  him  to  take  the  basket  from 
the  lad,  resumed  her  seat,  and  her  example  was 
necessarily  followed  by  Katherine  ;  though  not 
without  some  manifest  indications  of  vexation. 

"  Come  hither,  boy,  and  explain  the  uses  of 
your  wares.  This  is  soap,  and  this  a  penknife,  I 
know ;  but  what  name  do  you  affix  to  this .?" 

"  That  ?  that  is  tape,"  returned  the  lad,  with 
an  impatience  that  might  very  naturally  be  attri 
buted  to  the  interruption  that  was  thus  given  to  his 
trade. 

"  And  this  ?" 

"  That  ?"  repeated  the  stripling,  pausing,  with  a 
hesitation  between  sulkiness  and  doubt ;  "that  ? — " 

"  Come,  this  is  a  little  ungallant !"  cried  Kathe 
rine  ;  "  to  keep  three  ladies  dying  with  impa 
tience  to  possess  themselves  of  their  finery,  while 
you  detain  the  boy,  to  ask  the  name  of  a  tambour- 
ing-needle  !" 

"  I  should  apologize  for  asking  questions  that 
are  so  easily  answered  ;  but  perhaps  he  will  find 
the  next  more  difficult  to  solve,"  returned  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  placing  the  subject  of  his  inquiries 
in  the  palm  of  his  hand,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
conceal  it  from  all  but  the  boy  and  himself.  "  This 
has  a  name,  too ;  what  is  it  ?" 

"  That  ? — that — is  sometimes  called — white- 
line." 

*c  Perhaps  you  mean  a  white  lie  ?" 

"  How,  sir !"  exclaimed  the  lad,  a  little  fiercely, 
'  a  tie  !> 


THE    PILOT.  399 

"  Only  a  white  one,"  returned  the  captain. 
"  What  do  you  call  this,  Miss  Dunscombe  ?" 

"  We  call  it  bobbin,  sir,  generally,  in  the 
north,"  said  the  placid  Alice. 

"  Ay,  bobbin,  or  white-line  ;  they  are  the  same 
thing,"  added  the  young  trader. 

"  They  are !  I  think,  now,  for  a  professional 
man,  you  know  but  little  of  the  terms  of  your 
art,"  observed  Borroughcliffe,  with  an  affectation 
of  irony ;  "  I  never  have  seen  a  youth  of  your 
years  who  knew  less.  What  names,  now,  would 
you  affix  to  this,  and  this,  and  this  ?" 

While  the  captain  was  speaking,  he  drew  from 
his  pockets  the  several  instruments  that  the  cock 
swain  had  made  use  of  the  preceding  night  to  se 
cure  his  prisoner. 

"  That,"  exclaimed  the  lad,  with  the  eagerness 
of  one  who  would  vindicate  his  reputation,  "  is  rat 
lin-stuff  ;  and  this  is  marline  ;  and  that  is  sennit." 

"  Enough,  enough,"  said  Borroughcliffe  ;  "  you 
have  exhibited  sufficient  knowledge,  to  convince 
me  that  you  do  know  something  of  your  trade,  and 
nothing  of  these  articles.  Mr.  Griffith,  do  you 
claim  this  boy  ?" 

"  I  believe  I  must,  sir,"  said  the  young  sea- 
officer,  who  had  been  intently  listening  to  the 
examination.  "  On  whatever  errand  you  have 
ventured  here,  Mr.  Merry,  it  is  useless  to  affect 
further  concealment." 

"Merry!"  exclaimed  Cecilia  Howard;  "is  it 
you,  then,  my  cousin  ?  are  you,  too,  fallen  into 
the  power  of  your  enemies !  was  it  not  enough 
that—" 

The  young  lady  recovered  her  recollection  in 
time  to  suppress  the  remainder  of  "the  sentence, 
though  the  grateful  expression  of  Griffith's  eye 


400  THE    PILOT. 

sufficiently  indicated  that  he  had,  in  his  thoughts, 
filled  the  sentence  with  expressions  abundantly 
flattering  to  his  own  feelings. 

4i  Htiw's  this,  again !"  cried  the  colonel ;  '•  my 
two  wards  embracing  and  fondling  a  vagrant, 
vagabond  pedler,  before  my  eyes  ;  is  this  treason, 
Mr.  Griffith  ?  or  what  means  the  extraordinary 
visit  of  this  young  gentleman  ? 

"  Is  it  extraoidinary,  sir,"  said  Merry  himself, 
losing  his  assumed  awkwardness,  in  the  ease  and 
confidence  of  one  whose  faculties  had  been  early 
exercised,  cc  that  a  boy,  like  myself,  destitute  of 
mother  and  sisters,  should  take  a  like  risk  on  him 
self,  to  visit  the  only  two  female  relatives  he  has  in 
the  world  ?" 

"  Why  this  disguise,  then  ?  surely,  young  gen 
tleman,  it  was  unnecessary  to  enter  the  dwelling 
of  old  George  Howard,  on  such  an  errand,  clan 
destinely,  even  though  your  tender  years  have 
been  practised  on,  to  lead  you  astray  from  your 
allegiance.  Mr.  Griffith  and  Captain  Manual 
must  pardon  me,  if  I  express  sentiments,  at  my 
own  table,  that  they  may  find  unpleasant ;  but  this 
business  requires  us  to  be  explicit." 

"  The  hospitality  of  Colonel  Howard  is  un 
questionable,"  returned  the  boy  ;  "  but  he  has  a 
great  reputation  for  his  loyalty  to  the  crown." 

"  Ay,  young  gentleman ;  and,  I  trust,  with 
some  justice." 

"  Would  it,  then,  be  safe,  to  intrust  my  person 
in  the  hands  of  one  who  might  think  it  his  duty  to 
detain  me  ?" 

"  This  is  plausible  enough,  Captain  Borrough- 
cliffe,  and  I  doubt  not  the  boy  speaks  with  can 
dour.  I  would,  now,  that  my  kinsman,  Mr. 
Christopher  Dillon,  were  here,  that  I  might  learn 


THE    PILOT  401 

if  it  would  be  misprisipn  of  treason,  to  permit 
this  youth  to  depart,  unmolested,  and  without  ex 
change  ?" 

"  Inquire  of  the  young  gentleman,  after  the 
Cacique,"  returned  the  recruiting  officer,  who, 
apparently  satisfied  in  producing  the  exposure  of 
Merry,  had  resumed  his  seat  at  the  table  ;  "  per 
haps  he  is,  in  verity,  an  ambassador,  empowered 
to  treat  on  behalf  of  his  highness." 

"  How  say  you,"  demanded  the  colonel ;  "  do 
you  know  any  thing  of  my  kinsman  ?" 

The  anxious  eyes  of  the  whole  party  were  fas 
tened  on  the  boy,  for  many  moments,  witnessing 
the  sudden  change  from  careless  freedom  to  deep 
horror,  expressed  in  his  countenance.  At  length 
he  uttered,  in  an  under  tone,  the  secret  of  Dillon's 
fate. 

"  He  is  dead." 

"  Dead !"  repeated  every  voice  in  the  room. 

"  Yes.,  dead,"  said  the  boy,  gazing  at  the  pallid 
faces  of  those  who  surrounded  him. 

A  long  and  fearful  silence  succeeded  the  an 
nouncement  of  this  intelligence,  which  was  only 
interrupted  by  Griffith,  who  said — 

"Explain  the  manner  of  his  death,  sir,  and 
where  his  body  lies." 

"  His  body  lies  interred  in  the  sands,"  returned 
Merry,  with  a  deliberation  that  proceeded  from  an 
opening  perception,  that  if  he  uttered  too  much, 
he  might  betray  the  loss  of  the  Ariel,  and,  conse 
quently,  endanger  the  liberty  of  Barnstable. 

"  In  the  sands  !"  was  echoed  from  every  part  of 
the  room. 

"  Ay,  in  the  sands  ;  but  how  he  died,  I  cannot 
explain." 

"  He  has  been  murdered !"  exclaimed  Colonel 
Howard,  wThose  command  of  utterance  \vas  now 
34* 


402  THE    PILOT. 

amply  restored  to  him ;  "  he  has  been  treacherous 
ly,  and  dastardly,  and  basely  murdered  !" 

"  He  has  not  been  murdered,"  said  the  boy, 
firmly ;  "  nor  did  he  meet  his  death  among  those 
who  deserve  the  name  either  of  traitors  or  of  das 
tards." 

"  Said  you  not  that  he  was  dead  ?  that  my 
kinsman  was  buried  in  the  sands  of  the  sea 
shore  ?" 

"  Both  are  true,  sir — " 

"  And  you  refuse  to  explain  how  he  met  his 
death,  and  why  he  has  been  thus  ignominiously  in 
terred  ?" 

"He  received  his  interment  by  my  orders,  sir ; 
and  if  there  be  ignominy  about  his  grave,  his  own 
acts  have  heaped  it  on  him.  As  to  the  manner  of 
his  death,  I  cannot,  and  will  not  speak." 

"  Be  calm,  my  cousin,"  said  Cecilia,  in  an  im 
ploring  voice ;  "  respect  the  age  of  my  uncle,  and 
remember  his  strong  attachment  to  Mr.  Dillon." 

The  veteran  had,  however,  so  far  mastered  his 
feelings,  as  to  continue  the  dialogue  with  more  re 
collection. 

"  Mr.  Griffith,"  he  said,  "  I  shall  not  act  hasti 
ly — you  and  your  companion  will  be  pleased  to 
retire  to  your  several  apartments.  I  will  so  far  re 
spect  the  son  of  my  brother  Harry's  friend  as  to 
believe  your  parole  will  be  sacred.  Go,  gentle 
men;  you  are  unguarded." 

The  two  prisoners  bowed  low  to  the  ladies  and 
their  host,  and  retired.  Griffith,  however,  linger 
ed  a  moment  on  the  threshold,  to  say — 

"  Colonel  Howard,  I  leave  the  boy  to  your  kind 
ness  and  consideration.     I  know  you  will  not  for 
get  that  his  blood  mingles  with  that  of  one  who  is 
most  dear  to  you." 

"  Enough,  enough,  sir,"  said  the  veteran,  waving 


THE    PILOT.  403 

his  hand  to  him  to  retire  :  "  and  you,  ladies  ;  this 
is  not  a  place  for  you,  either." 

"  Never  will  I  quit  this  child,"  said  Katherine, 
"  while  such  a  horrid  imputation  lies  on  him. 
Colonel  Howard,  act  your  pleasure  on  us  both,  for 
I  suppose  you  have  the  power ;  but  his  fate  shall 
be  my  fate." 

"  There  is,  I  trust,  some  misconception  in  this 
melancholy  affair,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  advanc 
ing  into  the  centre  of  the  agitated  group  ;  "  and 
I  should  hope,  by  calmness  and  moderation,  all 
may  yet  be  explained — young  gentleman,  you 
have  borne  arms,  and  must  know,  notwithstanding 
your  youth,  what  it  is  to  be  in  the  power  of  your 
enemies  ?" 

"  Never  !"  returned  the  proud  boy ;  "  I  am  a 
captive  for  the  first  time." 

"  I  speak,  sir,  in  reference  to  our  power." 

"  You  may  order  me  to  a  dungeon ;  or,  as  1 
have  entered  the  Abbey  in  disguise,  possibly  to  a 
gibbet." 

"  And  is  that  a  fate  to  be  met  so  calmly  by  one 
so  young  !" 

"  You  dare  not  do  it,  Captain  Borroughclifie," 
cried  Katherine,  involuntarily  throwing  an  arm 
around  the  boy,  as  if  to  shield  him  from  harm ; 
"  you  would  blush  to  think  of  such  a  cold-blooded 
act  of  vengeance,  Colonel  Howard." 

"  If  we  could  examine  the  young  man,  where 
the  warmth  of  feeling,  which  these  ladies  exhibit, 
might  not  be  excited,"  said  the  captain,  apart  to 
his  host,  "  we  should  gain  important  intelligence." 

"  Miss  Howard,  and  you,  Miss  Plowden,"  said 
the  veteran,  in  a  manner  that  long  habit  had  taught 
his  wards  to  respect,  "  your  young  kinsman  is  not 
in  the  keeping  of  savages,  and  you  can  safely  con 
fide  him  to  my  custody.  I  am  sorry  that  we  have 


404  THE    PILOT. 

so  long  kept  Miss  Alice  standing,  but  she  will  find 
relief  on  the  couches  of  your  drawing-room,  Ce 
cilia." 

Cecilia  and  Katherine  permitted  themselves  to 
oe  conducted  to  the  door,  by  their  polite,  but  de 
termined  guardian,  where  he  bowed  to  their  retir 
ing  persons,  with  the  exceeding  courtesy  that  he 
never  failed  to  use,  when  in  the  least  excited. 

"  You  appear  to  know  your  danger,  Mr.  Merry," 
said  Borroughcliffe,  after  the  door  was  closed ; 
"  I  trust  you  also  know  what  duty  would  dictate 
to  one  in  my  situation." 

"Do  it,  sir,"  returned  the  boy;  "you  have  a 
king  to  render  an  account  to,  and  I  have  a  coun 
try." 

"  I  may  have  a*  country,  also,"  said  Borrough 
cliffe,  with  a  calmness  that  was  not  in  the  least 
disturbed  by  the  taunting  air  with  which  the 
youth  delivered  himself.  "  It  is  possible  for  me, 
however,  to  be  lenient,  even  merciful,  when  the 
interests  of  that  prince,  to  whom  you  allude,  are 
served — you  came  not  on  this  enterprise  alone, 
sir?" 

"  Had  I  come  better  attended,  Captain  Bor 
roughcliffe  might  have  heard  these  questions,  in 
stead  of  putting  them." 

"  I  am  happy,  sir,  that  your  retinue  has  been  so 
small :  and  yet,  even  the  rebel  schooner  called  the 
Ariel  might  have  furnished  you  with  a  more  be 
coming  attendance.  I  cannot  but  think,  that  you 
are  not  far  distant  from  your  friends." 

"  He  is  near  his  enemies,  your  honour,"  said 
Sergeant  Drill,  who  had  entered  the  room,  unob 
served  ;  "  for  here  is  a  boy  who  says  he  has  been 
seized  in  the  old  ruin,  and  robbed  of  his  goods  and 
clothes ;  and,  by  his  description,  this  lad  should 
be  the  thief." 


THE    PILOT.  405 

Borroughcliffe  signed  to  the  boy,  who  stood  in 
the  back  ground,  to  advance,  and  he  was  instantly 
obeyed,  with  all  that  eagerness  which  a  sense  of 
injury  on  the  part  of  the  sufferer  could  excite. 
The  tale  of  this  unexpected  intruder  was  soon  told, 
and  was  briefly  this : 

He  had  been  assaulted  by  a  man  and  a  boy, 
(the  latter  was  in  presence,)  while  arranging  his 
effects,  in  the  ruin,  preparatory  to  exhibiting  them 
to  the  ladies  of  the  Abbey,  and  had  been  robbed 
of  such  part  of  his  attire  as  the  boy  had  found 
necessary  for  his  disguise,  together  with  his  bas 
ket  of  valuables.  He  had  been  put  into  an 
apartment  of  an  old  tower,  by  the  man,  for  safe 
keeping ;  but  as  the  latter  frequently  ascended  to 
its  turret,  to  survey  the  country,  he  had  availed 
himself  of  this  remissness,  to  escape  :  and,  to  con 
clude,  he  demanded  a  restoration  of  his  property, 
and  vengeance  for  his  wrongs. 

Merry  heard  his  loud  and  angry  details  with 
scornful  composure,  and  before  the  offended  ped- 
ler  was  through  his  narrative,  had  divested  him 
self  of  the  borrowed  garments,  which  he  threw  to 
the  other  with  singular  disdain. 

u  We  are  beleaguered,  mine  host !  beset !  be 
sieged  !"  cried  Borroughcliffe,  when  the  other 
had  ended.  "  Here  is  a  rare  plan  to  rob  us  of 
our  laurels  !  ay,  and  of  our  rewards  !  but,  hark  ye, 
Drill!  they  have  old  soldiers  to  deal  with,  and  we 
shall  look  into  the  matter.  One  would  wish  to 
triumph  on  foot  ;  you  understand  me  ? — there 
was  no  horse  in  the  battle.  Go,  felhnv,  I  see 
you  grow  wiser  ;  take  this  young  gentleman — and 
remember  he  is  a  young  gentleman — put  him  in 
safe  keeping,  but  see  him  supplied  with  all  he 
wants." 

Borroughcliffe  bowed  politely  to  the   haughty 


406  THE    PILOT. 

bend  of  the  body  with  which  Merry,  who  now 
began  to  think  himself  a  martyr  to  his  country, 
followed  the  orderly  from  the  room. 

"  There  is  metal  in  the  lad  !"  exclaimed  the 
captain  ;  "  and  if  he  live  to  get  a  beard,  'twill  be 
a  hardy  dog  who  ventures  to  pluck  it.  I  am 
glad,  mine  host,  that  this  c  wandering  jew'  has 
arrived,  to  save  the  poor  fellow's  feelings,  for  I 
detest  tampering  with  such  a  noble  spirit.  I  saw, 
by  his  eye,  that  he  had  squinted  oftener  over  a 
gun,  than  through  a  needle  !" 

"  But  they  have  murdered  my  kinsman  ! — the 
loyal,  the  learned,  the  ingenious  Mr.  Christopher 
Dillon  !" 

"  If  they  have  done  so,  they  shall  be  made  to 
answer  it,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  re-seating  him 
self  at  the  table,  with  a  coolness  that  furnished  an 
ample  pledge  of  the  impartiality  of  his  judgment ; 
"  but  let  us  learn  the  facts,  before  we  do  aught 
hastily." 

Colonel  Howard  was  fain  to  comply  with  so 
reasonable  a  proposition,  and  he  resumed  his 
chair,  while  his  companion  proceeded  to  institute 
a  close  examination  of  the  pedler  boy. 

We  shall  defer,  until  the  proper  time  may  ar 
rive,  recording  the  result  of  his  inquiries ;  but 
shall  so  far  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  our  readers,  as 
to  tell  them,  that  the  captain  learned  sufficient  to 
convince  him  a  very  serious  attempt  was  medi 
tated  on  the  Abbey  ;  and,  as  he  thought,  enough, 
also,  to  enable  him  to  avert  the  danger. 


CHAPTER 


"  1  have  not  seen 

So  likely  an  embassador  of  love." 

Merchant  of  Venice. 


CECILIA  and  Katherine  separated  from  Alice 
Dunscombe  in  the  lower  gallery  of  the  cloisters  ,• 
and  the  cousins  ascended  to  the  apartment  which 
was  assigned  them  as  a  dressing-room.  The  in 
tensity  of  feeling  that  was  gradually  accumulat 
ing  in  the  breasts  of  the  ladies,  as  circumstances 
brought  those  in  whom  their  deepest  interests 
were  centered,  into  situations  of  extreme  delica 
cy,  if  not  of  actual  danger,  perhaps,  in  some 
measure,  prevented  them  from  experiencing  all 
that  concern  which  the  detection  and  arrest  of 
Merry  might  be  supposed  to  excite.  The  boy, 
like  themselves,  was  an  only  child  of  one  of  those 
three  sisters,  who  caused  the  close  connexion  be 
tween  so  many  of  our  characters ;  and  his  tendei 
years  had  led  his  cousins  to  regard  him  with  an 
affection  that  exceeded  the  ordinary  interest  of 
such  an  affinity;  but  they  knew,  that  in  the 
hands  of  Colonel  Howard  his  person  was  safe, 
though  his  liberty  might  be  endangered.  When 
the  first  emotions,  therefore,  which  weie  created 


408  THE    PILOT. 

oy  his  sudden  appearance,  after  so  long  an  absence , 
had  subsided,  their  thoughts  were  rather  occupied 
by  the  consideration  of  what  consequences,  to 
others,  might  proceed  from  his  arrest,  than  by  any 
reflections  on  the  midshipman's  actual  condition. 
Secluded  from  the  observations  of  any  strange 
eyes,  the  two  maidens  indulged  their  feelings, 
without  restraint,  according  to  their  several  tem 
peraments.  Katherine  moved  to  and  fro,  in  the 
apartment,  with  feverish  anxiety,  while  Miss 
Howard,  by  concealing  her  countenance  under  the 
ringlets  of  her  luxuriant,  dark  hair,  and  shading  her 
eyes  with  a  fair  hand,  seemed  to  be  willing  to  com 
mune  with  her  thoughts  more  quietly. 

"  Barnstable  cannot  be  far  distant,"  said  the 
former,  after  a  few  minutes  had  passed ;  "  for  he 
never  would  have  sent  that  child  on  such  an  er 
rand,  by  himself!" 

Cecilia  raised  her  mild,  blue  eyes  to  the  counte 
nance  of  her  cousin,  as  she  answered — 

"  All  thoughts  of  an  exchange  must  now  be 
abandoned ;  and  perhaps  the  persons  of  the  prison 
ers  will  be  held  as  pledges,  to  answer  for  the  life 
of  Dillon." 

"  Can  the  wretch  be  dead  ?  or  is  it  merely  a 
threat,  or  some  device  of  that  urchin  ?  he  is  a  for 
ward  child,  and  W7ould  not  hesitate  to  speak  and 
act  boldly,  on  emergency." 

"  He  is  dead  !"  returned  Cecilia,  veiling  her 
face  again,  in  horror  \  tc  the  eyes  of  the  boy,  his 
whole  countenance,  confirmed  his  words !  I  fear, 
Katherine,  that  Mr.  Barnstable  has  suffered  his  re 
sentment  to  overcome  his  discretion,  when  he 
learned  the  treachery  of  Dillon ;  surely,  surely, 
though  the  hard  usages  of  war  may  justify  so 
dreadful  a  revenge  on  an  enemy,  it  was  unkind  to 
forget  the  condition  of  his  own  friends  !" 


THE    PILOT.  409 

"  Mr.  Barnstable  has  done  neither,  Miss  How 
ard,"  said  Katherine,  checking  her  uneasy  foot 
steps,  her  light  form  swelling  with  pride ;  "  Mr. 
Barnstable  is  equally  incapable  of  murdering  an 
enemy,  or  of  deserting  a  friend !" 

"  But  retaliation  is  neither  deemed  nor  called 
murder,  by  men  in  arms." 

"  Think  it  what  you  will,  call  it  what  you  will, 
Cecilia  Howard,  I  will  pledge  my  life,  that  Rich 
ard  Barnstable  has  to  answer  for  the  blood  of  none 
but  the  open  enemies  of  his  country." 

"  The  miserable  man  may  have  fallen  a  sacri 
fice  to  the  anger  of  that  terrific  seaman,  who  led 
him  hence  as  a  captive  !" 

"  That  terrific  seaman,  Miss  Howard,  has  a 
heart  as  tender  as  your  own.  He  is — " 

u  Nay,  Katherine,"  interrupted  Cecilia,  "  you 
chide  me  unkindly ;  let  us  not  add  to  our  unavoid 
ably  misery,  by  such  harsh  contention." 

"  I  do  not  contend  with  you,  Cecilia  !  I  merely 
defend  the  absent  and  the  innocent  from  your  un 
kind  suspicions,  my  cousin." 

"  Say,  rather  your  sister,"  returned  Miss  How 
ard,  as  their  hands  involuntarily  closed  upon  each 
other,  "  for  we  are  surely  sisters !  But  let  us  strive 
to  think  of  something  less  horrible.  Poor,  poor 
Dillon !  now  that  he  has  met  a  fate  so  terrible,  I 
can  even  fancy  him  less  artful  and  more  upright 
than  we  had  thought  him !  You  agree  with  me, 
Katherine,  I  see  by  your  countenance,  and  we  will 
>lwell  no  longer  on  the  subject. — Katherine !  my 
cousin  Kate,  what  see  you  ?" 

Miss  Plowden,  as  she  relinquished  her  pres 
sure  of  the  hand  of  Cecilia,  had  renewed  her  walk 
with  a  more  regulated  step ;  but  she  was  yet  mak 
ing  her  first  turn  across  the  room,  when  her  eyes 
became  keenly  set  on  the  opposite  window,  and  her 
35 


410  THE    PILOT. 

whole  frame  was  held  in  an  attitude  of  absorbed 
attention.  The  rays  of  the  setting  sun  fell  bright 
upon  her  dark  glances,  which  seemed  fastened  on 
some  distant  object,  and  gave  an  additional  glow 
to  the  mantling  colour  that  was  slowly  stealing, 
across  her  cheeks,  to  her  temples.  Such  a  sudden 
alteration  in  the  manner  and  appearance  of  her 
companion  had  not  failed  to  catch  the  attention  of 
Cecilia,  who,  in  consequence,  interrupted  herself 
by  the  agitated  question  we  have  related.  Kathe- 
rine  slowly  beckoned  her  companion  to  her  side, 
and,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  wood  that  lay 
in  view,  she  said — 

"  See  yon  tower,  in  the  ruin !  Do  you  observe 
those  small  spots  of  pink  and  yellow  that  are  flut 
tering  above  its  walls  f" 

"  I  do.  They  are  the  lingering  remnants  of  the 
foliage  of  some  tree  ;  but  they  want  the  vivid  tints 
which  grace  the  autumn  of  our  own  dear  America !" 

"  One  is  the  work  of  God,  and  the  other  has 
been  produced  by  the  art  of  man.  Cecilia,  those 
are  no  leaves,  but  they  are  my  own  childish  sig 
nals,  and  without  doubt  Barnstable  himself  is  on 
that  ruined  tower.  Merry  cannot,  will  not,  betray 
him !" 

"  My  life  should  be  a  pledge  for  the  honour  of 
our  little  cousin,"  said  Cecilia.  "  But  you  have  the 
telescope  of  my  uncle  at  hand,  ready  for  such  an 
event  !  one  look  through  it  will  ascertain  the 
truth—" 

Katherine  sprang  to  the  spot  where  the  instru 
ment  stood,  and  with  eager  hands  she  prepared  it 
for  the  necessary  observation. 

"  It  is  he  !"  she  cried  the  instant  her  eye  was  put 
to  the  glass.  "  I  even  see  his  head  above  the  stones. 
How  unthinking  to  ^xpose  himself  so  unnecessari 
ly!" 


THE    PILOT.  411 

"  But  what  says  he,  Katherine  ?"  exclaimed  Ce 
cilia  ;  "  you  alone  can  interpret  his  meaning." 

The  little  book  which  contained  the  explana 
tions  of  Miss  Plowden's  signals  was  now  hastily 
produced,  and  its  leaves  rapidly  run  over  in  quest 
of  the  necessary  number. 

"  'Tis  only  a  question  to  gain  my  attention.  I 
must  let  him  know  he  is  observed." 

When  Katherine,  as  much  to  indulge  her  secret 
propensities,  as  with  any  hope  of  its  usefulness, 
had  devised  this  plan  for  communicating  with 
Barnstable,  she  had,  luckily,  not  forgotten  to  ar 
range  the  necessary  means  to  reply  to  his  inter 
rogatories.  A  very  simple  arrangement  of  some 
of  the  ornamental  cords  of  the  window-curtains 
enabled  her  to  effect  this  purpose  ;  and  her  nimble 
fingers  soon  fastened  the  pieces  of  silk  to  the  lines, 
which  were  now  thrown  into  the  air,  when  these 
signals  in  miniature  were  instantly  displayed  in 
the  breeze. 

"  He  sees  them  !"  cried  Cecilia,  "  and  is  pre 
paring  to  change  his  flags." 

"Keep  then  your  eye  on  him,  my  cousin,  and 
tell  me  the  colours  that  he  shows,  with  their  order, 
and  I  will  endeavour  to  read  his  meaning." 

"  He  is  as  expert  as  yourself !  There  are  two 
more  of  them  fluttering;  above  the  stones  again  : 
the  upper  is  white,  and  the  lower  black." 

"  White  over  black,"  repeated  Katherine,  rapid 
ly,  to  herself,  as  she  turned  the  leaves  of  her 
book. — "  '  My  messenger  :  has  he  been  seen  V — 
To  that.  wre  must  answer  the  unhappy  truth.  Here 
it  is— yellow,  white,  and  red — '  lie  is  a  prisoner.' 
How  fortunate  that  I  should  have  prepared  such  a 
question  and  answer.  What  says  he,  Cecilia,  to 
this  news  ?" 

"  He  is  busy  making  his  changes,  dear.     Nay, 


412  THE  PILOT. 

Katherine,  you  shake  so  violently  as  to  move  the 
glass !  Now  he  is  done ;  'tis  yellow  over  black, 
this  time." 

"  c  Griffith,  or  who  V  He  does  not  understand 
us ;  but  I  had  thought  of  the  poor  boy,  in  making 
out  the  numbers — ah  !  here  it  is  ;  yellow,  green, 
and  red — <•  my  cousin  McrryS — He  cannot  fail  to 
understand  us  now." 

"  He  has  already  taken  in  his  flags.  The  news 
seems  to  alarm  him,  for  he  is  less  expert  than  be 
fore.  He  shows  them  now — they  are  green,  red 

i  11  «%  »  O 

and  yellow." 

"The  question  is,  c  Am  I  safeT  'Tis  that 
which  made  him  tardy,  Miss  Howard,"  continued 
Katherine.  "Barnstable  is  ever  slow  to  consult 
his  safety.  But  how  shall  I  answer  him  ?  should 
we  mislead  him  now,  how  could  we  ever  forgive 
ourselves  !" 

"  Of  Andrew  Merry  there  is  no  fear,"  returned 
Cecilia,  "  and  I  think  if  Captain  Borroughcliffe 
had  any  intimation  of  the  proximity  of  his  enemies, 
he  would  not  continue  at  the  table." 

"  He  will  stay  there  while  wine  will  sparkle,  and 
man  can  swallow,"  said  Katherine  ;  "  but  we  know, 
by  sad  experience,  that  he  is  a  soldier  on  an  emer 
gency  ;  and  yet,  I'll  trust  to  his  ignorance  this 
time — here,  1  have  an  answer  :  iyou  are  yctsqfey 
but  be  waryS  " 

"  He  reads  your  meaning  with  a  quick  eye, 
Katherine ;  and  he  is  ready  with  his  answer  too : 
he  shows  green  over  white  this  time.  Well !  do 
you  not  hear  me  ?  'tis  green  over  white.  Why, 
you  are  dumb — what  says  he,  dear  ?" 

Still  Katherine  answered  not,  and  her  cousin 
raised  her  eyes  from  the  glass,  and  beheld  her 
companion  gazing  earnestly  at  the  open  page, 
while  the  glow  which  excitement  had  before 


THE    PILOT.  413 

brought  to  her  check,  was  increased  to  a  still 
deeper  bloom. 

"  I  hope  your  blushes  and  his  signals  are  not 
ominous,  Kate,"  added  Cecilia  ;  "  can  green  imply 
his  jealousy,  as  white  does  your  purity  ?  what 
says  he,  coz  ?" 

"  He  talks,  like  yourself,  much  nonsense,"  said 
Katherine,  turning  to  her  flags,  with  a  pettish  air, 
that  was  singularly  contradicted  by  her  gratified 
countenance  ;  "  but  the  situation  of  things  requires 
that  I  should  talk  to  Barnstable  more  freely." 

"  I  can  retire,"  said  Cecilia,  rising  from  her 
chair  with  a  grave  manner. 

"  Nay,  Cecilia,  I  do  not  deserve  these  looks — 
'tis  you  who  exhibit  levity  now  !  But  you  can  per 
ceive  for  yourself,  that  evening  is  closing  in,  and 
that  some  other  medium  for  conversation,  besides 
the  eyes,  may  be  adopted. — Here  is  a  signal, 
which  will  answer :  '  When  the  Abbey  clock  strikes 
nine,  come  with  care  to  the  wicket,  which  opens ,  at 
the  east  side  of  the  Paddock,  on  the  road  :  until 
then,  keep  secret.'  I  had  prepared  this  very  signal, 
in  case  an  interview  should  be  necessary." 

"  Well,  he  sees  it,"  returned  Cecilia,  who  had 
resumed  her  place  by  the  telescope,  "  and  seems 
disposed  to  obey  you,  for  I  no  longer  discern  his 
flags  or  his  person." 

Miss  Howard  now  arose  from  before  the  glass; 
her  observations  being  ended ;  but  Katherine  did 
not  return  the  instrument  to  its  corner,  without  fas 
tening  one  long  and  anxious  look  through  it,  on 
what  now  appeared  to  be  the  deserted  tower.  The 
interest  and  anxiety  produced  by  this  short  and 
imperfect  communication  between  Miss  Plowden 
and  her  lover,  did  not  fail  to  excite  reflections  in 
both  the  ladies,  that  furnished  materials  to  hold 
them  in  earnest  discourse,  until  the  entrance  of 
35* 


414  THE    PILOT. 

Alice  Dunscombe  announced  that  their  presence 
was  expected  below.  Even  the  unsuspecting  Alice, 
on  entering,  observed  a  change  in  the  countenances 
and  demeanour  of  the  two  cousins,  which  betrayed 
that  their  secret  conference  had  not  been  entirely 
without  contention.  The  features  of  Cecilia  were 
disturbed  and  anxious,  and  their  expression  not 
unlike  melancholy;  while  the  dark  flashing  eye, 
flushed  temples,  and  proud,  determined  step  of 
Katherine  exhibited  in  an  equal,  if  not  a  greater 
degree,  a  very  different  emotion.  As  no  reference 
to  the  subject  of  their  conversation  was,  however, 
made  by  either  of  the  young  ladies,  after  the  en 
trance  of  Alice,  she  led  the  way,  in  silence,  to  the 
drawing  room. 

The  ladies  were  received,  by  Col.  Howard  and 
Borroughcliffe,  with  marked  attention.  In  the 
former  there  were  moments  when  a  deep  gloom 
would,  in  spite  of  his  very  obvious  exertions  to  the 
contrary,  steal  over  his  open,  generous  counte 
nance  ;  but  the  recruiting  officer  maintained  an  air 
of  immoveable  coolness  and  composure.  Twenty 
times  did  he  detect  the  piercing  looks  of  Kathe 
rine  fastened  on  him,  with  an  intentness,  that  a 
less  deliberative  man  might  have  had  the  vanity 
to  misinterpret  ;  but  even  this  flattering  testi 
monial  of  his  power  to  attract,  failed  to  disturb 
his  self-possession.  It  was  in  vain  that  Kathe 
rine  endeavoured  to  read  his  countenance,  where 
every  thing  was  fixed  in  military  rigidity,  though 
his  deportment  appeared  more  than  usually  easy 
and  natural.  Tired  at  length  with  her  fruit 
less  scrutiny,  the  excited  girl  turned  her  gaze 
upon  the  clock :  to  her  amazement,  she  discovered 
that  it  was  on  the  stroke  of  nine,  and,  disregarding 
a  deprecating  glance  from  her  cousin,  she  arose 
and  quitted  the  apartment.  Borroughcliffe  open- 


THE    PILOT.  415 

ed  the  door  for  her  exit,  and,  while  the  lady  civilly 
bowed  her  head  in  acknowledgment  of  his  attention, 
their  eyes  once  more  met ;  but  she  glided  quickly 
by  him,  and  found  herself  alone  in  the  gallery.  Ka- 
therine  hesitated,  more  than  a  minute,  to  proceed, 
for  she  thought  she  had  detected  in  that  glance  a 
lurking  expression,  that  manifested  conscious  se 
curity  mingled  with  secret  design.  It  was  not  her 
nature,  however,  to  hesitate,  when  circumstances 
required  that  she  should  be  both  prompt  and  alert ; 
•\nd,  throwing  over  her  slight  person  a  large  cloak, 
chat  was  in  readiness  for  the  occasion,  she  stole 
warily  from  the  building. 

Although  Katherine  suspected  most  painfully, 
that  Borroughcliffe  had  received  intelligence  that 
raight  prove  dangerous  to  her  lover,  she  look 
ed  around  her  in  vain,  on  gaining  the  open  air, 
to  discover  any  alteration  in  the  arrangements  for 
the  defence  of  the  Abbey,  wrhich  might  confirm 
her  suspicions,  or  the  knowledge  of  which  might 
enable  her  to  instruct  Barn  stable  how  to  avoid 
the  secret  danger.  Every  disposition  remained  as 
it  had  been  since  the  capture  of  Griffith  and 
his  companion.  She  heard  the  heavy,  quick 
steps  of  the  sentinel,  who  was  posted  beneath  their 
windows,  endeavouring  to  warm  himself  on  his 
confined  post;  and  as  she  paused  to  listen,  she 
also  detected  the  rattling  of  arms  from  the  soldier, 
who,  as  usual,  guarded  the  approach  of  that  part 
of  the  building  where  his  comrades  were  quartered. 
The  night  had  set  in  cloudy  and  dark,  although 
the  gale  had  greatly  subsided  towards  the  close  of 
the  day ;  still  the  wind  swept  heavily,  and,  at  mo 
ments,  with  a  rushing  noise,  among  the  irregular 
walls  of  the  edifice ;  and  it  required  the  utmost 
nicety  of  ear  to  distinguish  even  these  wrell-known 
sounds,  among  such  accompaniments.  When 


416  THE    PILOT. 

Katharine,  however,  was  satisfied  that  her  organ* 
had  not  deceived  her,  she  turned  an  anxious  eye 
in  the  direction  of  what  Borroughcliffe  called  his 
"  barracks."  Every  thing  in  that  direction  ap 
peared  so  dark  and  still,  as  to  create  a  sensation 
of  uneasiness,  by  its  very  quiet.  It  might  be 
the  silence  of  sleep  that  now  pervaded  the  or 
dinarily  gay  and  mirthful  apartment!  or  it  might 
be  the  stillness  of  a  fearful  preparation  !  There 
was  no  time,  however,  for  further  hesitation,  and 
Katherine  drew  her  cloak  more  closely  about  her 
form,  and  proceeded,  with  light  and  guarded  steps, 
to  the  appointed  spot.  Ae  she  approached  the  wick 
et  the  clock  struck  the  hour,  and  she  again  paused , 
while  the  mournful  sounds  were  borne  by  her 
on  the  wind,  as  if  expecting  that  each  stroke  or* 
the  bell  would  prove  a  signal  to  unmask  some 
secret  design  of  Borroughelifie.  As  the  last  vi 
bration  melted  away,  she  opened  the  little  gate,  and 
^ssued  on  the  highway.  The  figure  of  a  mans 
sprang  forward  from  behind  an  angle  of  the  wall, 
as  she  appeared  ;  and  while  her  heart  was  stilt 
throbbing  with  the  suddenness  of  the  alarm,  she 
ound  herself  in  the  arms  of  Barnstable.  After 
the  first  few  words  of  recognition  and  pleasure 
which  the  young  sailor  uttered,  he  acquainted  his 
mistress  with  the  loss  of  his  schooner,  and  the 
situation  of  the  survivors. 

"And  now,  Katherine,"  he  concluded,  "you 
have  come,  I  trust,  never  to  quit  me ;,  or,  at  most, 
to  return  no  more  to  that  old  Abbey,  unless  it  be 
to  aid  in  liberating  Griffith,  and  then  to  join  me 
again  for  ever." 

"  Why,  truly,  there  is  so  much  to  tempt  a  young 
woman  to  renounce  her  home  and  friends,  in  the 
description  you  have  just  given  of  your  condition, 
that  I  hardly  know  how  to  refuse  your  request, 


THE    PILOT.  417 

Barnstable.  You  are  very  tolerably  provided  with 
a  dwelling  in  the  ruin  ;  and  I  suppose  certain  pre 
datory  schemes  are  to  be.  adopted  to  make  it  ha 
bitable  !  St.  Ruth  is  certainly  well  supplied  with 
the  necessary  articles,  but  whether  we  should  not 
oe  shortly  removed  to  the  Castle  at  York,  or  the 
gaol  at  Newcastle,  is  a  question  that  I  put  to  your 
discretion." 

"  Why  yield  your  thoughts  to  such  silly  sub 
jects,  lovely  trifler  !"  said  Barnstable,  "  when 
the  time  and  the  occasion  both  urge  us  to  be  in 
earnest  ?" 

"  It  is  a  woman's  province  to  be  thrifty,  and  to 
look  after  the  comforts  of  domestic  life,"  returned 
his  mistress ;  "  and  I  would  discharge  my  func 
tions  with  credit.  But  I  feel  you  are  vexed,  for,  to 
see  your  dark  countenance  is  out  of  the  question, 
on  such  a  night.  When  do  you  propose  to  com 
mence  housekeeping,  if  I  should  yield  to  your 
proposals  ?" 

"  I  have  not  concluded  relating  my  plans,  and 
your  provoking  wit  annoys  me  !  The  vessel  I  have 
taken,  will,  unquestionably,  come  into  the  land,  as 
the  gale  dies ;  and  I  intend  making  my  escape  in 
her,  after  beatkig  this  Englishman,  and  securing 
the  liberty  of  Miss  Howard  and  yourself.  I  could 
see  the  frigate  in  the  offing,  even  before  we  left 
the  cliffs." 

"  This  certainly  sounds  better !"  rejoined  Kathe- 
rine,  in  a  manner  that  indicated  she  was  musing 
on  their  prospects ;  "  and  yet  there  may  exist  some 
difficulties  in  the  way  that  you  little  suspect." 

"  Difficulties  there  are  none — there  can  be 
none," 

u  Speak  not  irreverently  of  the  mazes  of  love, 
Mr.  Barnstable.  When  was  it  ever  known  to  exist 
unfettered  or  unembarrassed  ?  even  I  have  an  ex- 


418  THE    PILOT. 

planation  to  p^k  of  you,  that  1  would  much  rather 
let  alone." 

"  Of  me  !  ask  what  you  will,  or  how  you  will ; 
I  am  a  careless,  unthinking  fellow,  Miss  Plowden; 
but  to  you  I  have  little  to  answer  for — unless  a 
foolish  sort  of  adoration  be  an  offence  against  your 
merits." 

Barnstable  felt  the  little  hand  that  was  sup 
ported  on  his  arm,  pressing  the  limb,  as  Kathe- 
rine  replied,  in  a  tone  so  changed  from  its  former 
forced  levity,  that  he  started  as  the  first  sounds 
reached  his  ears.  "  Merry  has  brought  in  a  horrid 
report !"  she  said  ;  "  I  would  I  could  believe  it 
untrue  !  but  the  looks  of  the  boy,  and  the  absence 
of  Dillon,  both  confirm  it." 

"  Poor  Merry  !  he  too  has  fallen  into  the  trap ' 
but  they  shall  yet  find  one  who  is  too  cunning  for 
them.  Is  it  to  the  fate  of  that  wretched  Dillon 
that  you  allude  ?" 

"  He  was  a  wretch,"  continued  Katherine,  in  the 
same  voice,  "  and  he  deserved  much  punishment  at 
your  hands,  Barnstable  ;  but  life  is  the  gift  of  God, 
and  is  not  to  be  taken  whenever  human  vengeance 
would  appear  to  pequire  a  victim." 

"  His  life  was  taken  by  him  who  bestowed  it," 
said  the  sailor.  "  Is  it  Katherine  Plowden  who 
would  suspect  me  of  the  deed  of  a  dastard !" 

"  I  do  not  suspect  you — I  did  not  suspect  you," 
cried  Katherine  ;  "  I  will  never  suspect  any  evil  of 
you  again.  You  are  not,  you  cannot  be  angry 
with  me,  Barnstable  ?  had  you  heard  the  cruel 
suspicions  of  my  cousin  Cecilia,  and  had  your 
imagination  been  busy  in  portraying  your  wrongs 
and  the  temptations  to  forget  mercy,  like  mine,  even 
while  my  tongue  denied  your  agency  in  the  sus 
pected  deed,  you  would — you  would  at  least  have 
learned  how  much  easier  it  is  to  defend  those  we 


THE    PILOT.  419 

love  against  the  open  attacks  of  others,  than 
against  our  own  jealous  feelings.55 

"  Those  words,  love  and  jealousy,  will  obtain 
your  acquittal,55  cried  Barnstable,  in  his  natural 
voice  ;  and,  after  uttering  a  few  more  consoling  as 
surances  to  Katherine,  whose  excited  feelings 
found  vent  in  tears,  he  briefly  related  the  manner 
of  Dillon's  death. 

"  I  had  hoped  I  stood  higher  in  the  estimation 
of  Miss  Howard,  than  to  be  subjected  to  even  her 
suspicions,55  he  said,  when  he  had  ended  his  expla 
nation.  "  Griffith  has  been  but  a  sorry  representa 
tive  of  our  trade,  if  he  has  left  such  an  opinion  of 
its  pursuits.55 

"  I  do  not  know  that  Mr.  Griffith  would  alto 
gether  have  escaped  my  conjectures,  had  he  been 
the  disappointed  commander,  and  you  the  prison 
er,55  returned  Katherine ;  "  you  know  not  how 
much  we  have  both  studied  the  usages  of  war,  and 
with  what  dreadful  pictures  of  hostages,  retalia 
tions,  and  military  executions,  our  minds  are  stored  ! 
but  a  mountain  is  raised  off  my  spirits,  and  I  could 
almost  say,  that  I  am  now  ready  to  descend  the 
valley  of  life  in  your  company.55 

"  It  is  a  discreet  determination,  my  good  Kathe 
rine,  and  God  bless  you  for  it;  the  companion 
may  not  be  so  good  as  you  deserve,  but  you  will 
find  him  ambitious  of  your  praise.  Now  let  us  de 
vise  means  to  effect  our  object.'5 

"  Therein  lies  another  of  my  difficulties.  Griffith, 
I  much  fear,  will  not  urge  Cecilia  to  another  flight, 
against  her — her — what  shall  I  call  it,  Barnsta 
ble — her  caprice,  or  her  judgment?  Cecilia  will 
never  consent  to  desert  her  uncle,  and  I  cannot 
muster  the  courage  to  abandon  my  poor  cousin,  in 
the  face  of  the  world,  in  order  to  take  shelter  with 
even  Mr.  Richard  Barnstable  !" 


V  ~ 

420  THE    PILOT. 

"  Speak  you  from  the  heart  now,  Katherine  ?" 

"  Very  nearly — if  not  exactly." 

"  Then  have  I  been  cruelly  deceived  !  It  is  ea 
sier  to  find  a  path  in  the  trackless  ocean,  without 
chart  or  compass,  than  to  know  the  windings  of  a 
Woman's  heart !" 

"  Nay,  nay,  foolish  man ;  you  forget  that  I  am 
but  small,  and  how  very  near  my  head  is  to  my 
heart ;  too  nigh,  1  fear,  for  the  discretion  of  their 
mistress !  but  is  there  no  method  of  forcing  Grif 
fith  and  Cecilia  to  their  own  good,  without  undue 
violence  ?" 

"  It  cannot  be  done ;  he  is  my  senior  in  rank7 
and  the  instant  I  release  him  he  will  claim  the  com 
mand.  A  question  might  be  raised,  at  a  leisure 
moment,  on  the  merits  of  such  a  claim — but  event 
my  own  men  are,  as  you  know,  nothing  but  a  draft 
from  the  frigate,  and  they  would  not  hesitate  to 
obey  the  orders  of  the  first  lieutenant,  who  is  not  a 
man  to  trifle  on  matters  of  duty.'* 

"  'Tis  vexatious,  truly,"  said  Katherme,  "  that 
all  my  well  concerted  schemes  in  behalf  of  this 
wayward  pair,  should  be  frustrated  by  their  own 
wilful  conduct!  But  after  all,  have  you  justly  es 
timated  your  strength,  Barnstable  ?  are  you  cer 
tain  that  you  would  be  successful,  and  that  without 
hazard,  too,  if  you  should  make  the  attempt?" 

"  Morally,  and  what  is  better,  physically  eer 
tain.  My  men  are  closely  hid,  where  no  one  sus 
pects  an  enemy  to  lie ;  they  are  anxious  for  the  en 
terprise,  and  the  suddenness  of  the  attack  will  not 
only  make  the  victory  sure,  but  it  will  be  rendered 
bloodless.  You  will  aid  us  in  our  entrance,  Kathe 
rine  :  I  shall  first  secure  this  recruiting  officer,, 
and  his  command  will  then  surrender  without  stri 
king  a  blow.  Perhaps,  after  all,  Griffith  will  heal 


THE    PILOT.  421 

reason ;  if  he  do  not,  I  will  not  yield  my  authority 
to  a  released  captive,  without  a  struggle." 

"  God  send  that  there  shall  be  no  fighting !"  mur 
mured  his  companion,  a  little  appalled  at  the  im 
ages  his  language  had  raised  before  her  imagina 
tion  ;  "  and,  Barnstable,  I  enjoin  you,  most  solemn 
ly,  by  all  your  affection  for  me,  and  by  every  thing 
you  deem  most  sacred,  to  protect  the  person  of  Col. 
Howard  at  every  hazard.  There  must  be  no  ex 
cuse,  no  pretence,  for  even  an  insult  to  my  passion 
ate,  good,  obstinate,  but  kind  old  guardian.  I  be 
lieve  I  have  given  him  already  more  trouble  than 
I  am  entitled  to  give  any  one,  and  Heaven  forbid 
that  I  should  cause  him  any  serious  misfortune  !" 

"  He  shall  be  safe,  and  not  only  he,  but  all  that 
are  with  him,  as  you  will  perceive,  Katherine, 
when  you  hear  my  plan.  Three  hours  shall  not 
pass  over  my  head  before  you  will  see  me  master 
of  that  old  Abbey.  Griffith,  ay,  Griffith,  must  be 
content  to  be  my  inferior,  until  we  get  afloat 
again." 

"  Attempt  nothing  unless  you  feel  certain  of  be 
ing  able  to  maintain  your  advantage,  not  only 
against  your  enemies,  but  also  against  your 
friends,"  said  the  anxious  Katherine.  "  Rely  on  it. 
both  Cecilia  and  Griffith  are  refining  so  much  on 
their  feelings,  that  neither  will  be  your  ally." 

"  This  comes  of  passing  the  four  best  years  of 
his  life  within  walls  of  brick,  poring  over  Latin 
Grammars  and  Syntaxes,  and  such  other  nonsense, 
when  he  should  have  been  rolling  them  away  in  a 
good  box  of  live  oak,  and  studying,  at  the  most, 
how  to  sum  up  his  day's  work,  and  tell  where  his 
ship  lies  after  a  blow.  Your  college  learning  may 
answer  well  enough  for  a  man  who  has  to  live  by 
his  wits,  but  it  can  be  of  little  use  to  one  who  is 
never  afraid  to  read  human  nature,  by  looking  his 
36 


422 


THE    PILOT. 


fellow-creatures  full  in  the  face,  and  whose  hand 
is  as  ready  as  his  tongue.  I  have  generally  found 
the  eye  that  was  good  at  Latin  was  dull  at  a  com 
pass,  or  in  a  night  squall :  and  yet,  Grif  is  a  sea 
man  ;  though  I  have  heard  him  even  read  the  tes 
tament  in  Greek  !  Thank  God,  I  had  the  wisdom 
to  run  away  from  school  the  second  day  they  un 
dertook  to  teach  me  a  strange  tongue,  and  I  believe 
I  am  the  more  honest  man,  and  the  better  seaman, 
for  my  ignorance !" 

"  There  is  no  telling  what  you  might  have  been, 
Barnstable,  under  other  circumstances,"  retorted 
his  mistress,  with  a  playfulness  of  manner  that  she 
could  not  always  repress,  though  it  was  indulged 
at  the  expense  of  him  she  most  loved ;  "  I  doubt 
not  but,  under  proper  training,  you  would  have 
made  a  reasonably  good  priest." 

"  If  you  talk  of  priests,  Katherine,  I  shall  re 
mind  you  that  we  carry  one  in  the  ship.  But 
listen  to  my  plan,  we  may  talk  further  of  priest 
craft  when  an  opportunity  may  offer." 

Barnstable  then  proceeded  to  lay  before  his  mis 
tress  a  project  he  had  formed  for  surprising  the 
Abbey  that  night,  which  was  so  feasible,  that  Ka 
therine,  notwithstanding  her  recent  suspicions  of 
Borroughcliffe's  designs,  came  gradually  to  be 
lieve  it  would  succeed.  The  young  seaman  an 
swered  her  objections  with  the  readiness  of  an  ar 
dent  mind,  bent  on  executing  its  purposes,  and 
with  a  fertility  of  resources  that  proved  he  was  no 
contemptible  enemy,  in  matters  that  required 
spirited  action.  Of  Merry's  remaining  firm  and 
faithful  he  had  no  doubt ;  and  although  he  ac 
knowledged  the  escape  of  the  pedler  boy,  he 
urged  that  the  lad  had  seen  no  other  of  his  party 
besides  himself,  whom  he  mistook  for  a  common 
marauder 


THE    PILOT.  423 

As  the  disclosure  of  these  plans  was  frequently 
interrupted  by  little  digressions,  connected  with  the 
peculiar  emotions  of  the  lovers,  more  than  an  hour 
flew  by,  before  they  separated.  But  Katherine  at 
length  reminded  him  how  swiftly  the  time  was 
passing,  and  how  much  remained  to  be  done,  when 
he  reluctantly  consented  to  see  her  once  more  en 
ter  the  wicket,  where  they  parted. 

Miss  Plowden  adopted  the  same  precaution  in 
returning  to  the  house  she  had  used  on  leaving  it ; 
and  she  was  congratulating  herself  on  its  success, 
when  her  eye  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  figure  of  a 
man,  who  was  apparently  following  at  some  little 
distance,  in  her  footsteps,  and  dogging  her  motions. 
As  the  obscure  form,  however,  paused  also  when 
she  stopped  to  give  it  an  alarmed,  though  inquiring 
look,  and  then  slowly  retired  towards  the  bounda 
ry  of  the  paddock,  Katherine  believing  it  to  be 
Barnstable  watching  over  her  safety,  entered  the 
Abbey,  with  every  idea  of  alarm  entirely  lost  in 
the  pleasing  reflection  of  her  lover's  solicitude. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


*  He  looki  abroad  and  soon  appears, 
O'er  Hornclifle-hill,  a  plump  of  apears, 
Beneath  a  pennon  gay." 

JHarmion. 


THE  sharp  sounds  of  the  supper-bell  were  ring 
ing  along  the  gallery,  as  Miss  Plowden  gained  the 
gloomy  passage ;  and  she  quickened  her  steps  to 
join  the  ladies,  in  order  that  no  further  suspicions 
might  be  excited  by  her  absence. — Alice  Duns- 
combe  was  already  proceeding  to  the  dining  par 
lour,  as  Katherine  paseed  through  the  door  of  the 
drawing  room,  but  Miss  Howard  had  loitered  be 
hind,  and  was  met  by  her  cousin  alone. 

"  You  have  then  been  so  daring  as  to  venture, 
Katherine !"  exclaimed  Cecilia. 

"  I  have,"  returned  the  other,  throwing  herself 
into  a  chair,  to  recover  her  agitation — u  I  have, 
Cecilia ;  and  I  have  met  Barnstable,  who  will  soon 
be  in  the  Abbey,  and  its  master." 

The  blood  which  had  rushed  to  the  face  of  Ce 
cilia  on  first  seeing  her  cousin,  now  retreated  to  her 
heart,  leaving  every  part  of  her  fine  countenance  of 
the  whiteness  of  her  polished  temples,  as  she  said — 

"  And  we  are  to  have  a  night  of  blood  !" 


THE    PILOT.  425 

u  We  are  to  have  a  night  of  freedom,  Miss  How 
ard  ;  freedom  to  you,  and  to  me  ;  to  Andrew  Mer 
ry,  to  Griffith,  and  to  his  companion  !" 

u  What  freedom  more  than  we  now  enjoy,  Ka- 
therinc,  is  needed  by  two  young  women  ?  Think 
you  I  can  remain  silent,  and  see  my  uncle  betrayed 
before  my  eyes  ?  his  life  perhaps  endangered  !" 

"  Your  own  life  and  person  will  not  be  held 
more  sacred,  Cecilia  Howard,  than  that  of  your 
uncle.  If  you  will  condemn  Griffith  to  a  prison, 
and  perhaps  to  a  gibbet,  betray  Barnstable,  as  you 
have  threatened — an  opportunity  will  not  be  want 
ing  at  the  supper  table,  whither  I  shall  lead  the 
way,  since  the  mistress  of  the  house  appears  to  for 
get  her  duty." 

Katherine  arose,  and  with  a  firm  step  and  proud 
eye,  she  moved  along  the  gallery  to  the  room 
where  their  presence  was  expected  by  the  rest  of 
the  family.  Cecilia  followed  in  silence,  and  the 
whole  party  immediately  took  their  several  places 
at  the  board. 

The  first  few  minutes  were  passed  in  the  usual 
attentions  of  the  gentlemen  to  the  ladies,  and  the 
ordinary  civilities  of  the  table ;  during  which,  Ka 
therine  had  so  far  regained  the  equanimity  of  her 
feelings,  as  to  commence  a  watchful  scrutiny  of  the 
manners  and  looks  of  her  guardian  and  Borrough- 
cliffe,  in  which  she  determined  to  persevere  until 
the  eventful  hour  when  she  was  to  expect  Barn- 
stable  should  arrive.  Colonel  Howard  had,  how 
ever,  so  far  got  the  command  of  himself,  as  no 
onger  to  betray  his  former  abstraction.  In  its 
place  Katherine  fancied,  at  moments,  that  she 
could  discover  a  settled  look  of  conscious  securi 
ty,  mingled  a  little  with  an  expression  of  severe 
determination  ;  such  as,  in  her  earlier  days,  she 
had  learned  to  dread  as  sure  indications  of  the  in- 
36* 


426  THE    PILOT. 

dignant,  but  upright  justice  of  an  honourable  mind. 
BorroughclifFe,  on  the  other  hand,  was  cool,  polite, 
and  as  attentive  to  the  viands  as  usual,  with  the 
alarming  exception  of  discovering  much  less  devo 
tion  to  the  Pride  of  the  Vineyards,  than  he  com 
monly  manifested  on  such  occasions.  In  this  man 
ner  the  meal  passed  by,  and  the  cloth  was  re 
moved,  though  the  ladies  appeared  willing  to  re 
tain  their  places  longer  than  was  customary.  Co 
lonel  Howard,  filling  up  the  glasses  of  Alice  Duns- 
combe  and  himself,  passed  the  bottle  to  the  re 
cruiting  officer,  and,  with  a  sort  of  effort  that  was 
intended  to  rouse  the  dormant  cheerfulness  of  his 
guests,  cried — 

"  Come,  Borroughcliffe,  the  ruby  lips  of  youi 
neighbours  would  be  still  more  beautiful,  were 
they  moistened  with  this  rich  cordial,  and  that,  too, 
accompanied  by  some  loyal  sentiment.  Miss  Alice 
is  ever  ready  to  express  her  fealty  to  her  Sove 
reign  ;  in  her  name,  I  can  give  the  health  of  His 
Most  Sacred  Majesty,  with  defeat  and  death  to  all 
traitors  !" 

"  If  the  prayers  of  an  humble  subject,  and  one 
of  a  sex  that  has  but  little  need  to  mingle  in  the 
turmoil  of  the  world,  and  that  has  less  right  to  pre 
tend  to  understand  the  subtilties  of  statesmen,  can 
much  avail  a  High  and  Mighty  Prince  like  him  who 
sits  on  the  throne,  then  will  he  never  know  tem 
poral  evil,"  returned  Alice,  meekly ;  "  but  I  can 
not  wish  death  to  any  one,  not  even  to  my  enemies, 
if  any  I  have,  and  much  less  to  a  people  who  are 
the  children  of  the  same  family  with  myself." 

"  Children  of  the  same  family  !"  the  colonel  re 
peated,  slowly,  and  with  a  bitterness  of  manner 
that  did  not  fail  to  attract  the  painful  interest  of 
Katherine  :  "  children  of  the  same  family  !  Ay  ! 
even  as  Absalom  was  the  child  of  David,  or  as 


THE    PILOT.  427 

Judas  was  of  the  family  of  the  holy  Apostles  !  But 
let  it  pass  unpledged — let  it  pass.  The  accursed 
spirit  of  rebellion  has  invaded  my  dwelling,  and  1 
no  longer  know  where  to  find  one  of  my  house 
hold,  that  has  not  been  assailed  by  its  malign  in 
fluence  !" 

"  Assailed  I  may  have  teen,  among  others,"  re 
turned  Alice  ;  "  but  not  corrupted,  if  purity,  in 
this  instance,  consists  in  loyalty — " 

"  What  sound  is  that  ?"  interrupted  the  colonel, 
with  startling  suddenness.  "  Was  it  not  the  crash 
of  some  violence,  Borroughcliffe  ?" 

"  It  may  have  been  one  of  my  rascals  wrho  has 
met  with  a  downfall  in  passing  from  the  festive 
board,  where  you  know  I  regale  them  to-night,  in 
honour  of  our  success — to  his  blanket,"  returned 
the  captain,  with  admirable  indifference  ;  "  or  it 
may  be  the  very  spirit  of  whom  you  have  spoken 
so  freely,  my  host,  that  has  taken  umbrage  at  your 
remarks,  and  is  passing  from  the  hospitable  walls 
of  St.  Ruth  into  the  open  air,  without  submitting  to 
the  small  trouble  of  ascertaining  the  position  of 
doors.  In  the  latter  case  there  may  be  some  do 
zen  perches  or  so  of  wall  to  replace  in  the  morn- 
ing." 

The  colonel,  who  had  risen,  glanced  his  eyes, 
uneasily  from  the  speaker  to  the  door,  and  was 
evidently  but  little  disposed  to  enter  into  the  plea 
santry  of  his  guest. 

"  There  are  unusual  noises,  Captain  Borrough 
cliffe,  in  the  g-rounds  of  the  Abbey,  if  not  in  the 
building  itself,"  he  said,  advancing  with  a  fine  mi 
litary  air,  from  the  table  to  the  centre  of  the  room, 
"  and,  as  master  of  the  mansion,  I  will  inquire  who 
it  is  that  thus  unseasonably  disturbs  these  domains. 
If  as  friends,  they  shall  have  welcome,  though 
their  visit  be  unexpected ;  and  if  enemies,  they 


428  THE    PILOT. 

shall  also  meet  with  such  a  reception  as  will  be- 
come  an  old  soldier !" 

"  No,  no,"  cried  Cecilia,  entirely  thrown  off  her 
guard  by  the  manner  and  language  of  the  veteran, 
and  rushing  into  his  arms.  "  Go  not  out,  my  un 
cle,  go  not  into  the  terrible  fray,  my  kind,  my  good 
uncle  !  you  are  old,  you  have  already  done  more 
than  your  duty ;  why  should  you  be  exposed  to 
danger  ?" 

"  The  girl  is  mad  with  terror,  Borroughcliffe," 
cried  the  colonel,  bending  his  glistening  eyes  fondly 
on  his  niece,  "  and  you  will  have  to  furnish  my 
good-for-nothing,  gouty  old  person  with  a  corpo 
ral's  guard,  to  watch  my  night-cap,  or  the  silly 
child  will  have  an  uneasy  pillow,  till  the  sun  rises 
once  more.  But  you  do  not  stir,  sir  ?" 

"  Why  should  I  ?"  cried  the  captain  ;  "  Miss 
Plowden  yet  deigns  to  keep  me  company,  and  it  is 

not  in  the  nature  of  one  of  the  th,  to  desert 

his  bottle  and  his  standard  at  the  same  moment. 
For,  to  a  true  soldier,  the  smiles  of  a  lady  are  as 
imposing  in  the  parlour,  as  the  presence  of  his  co 
lours  in  the  field." 

"  I  continue  undisturbed,  Captain  Borrough 
cliffe,"  said  Katherine,  "  because  I  have  not  been 
an  inhabitant,  for  so  many  months,  of  St.  Ruth,  and 
not  learned  to  know  the  tunes  which  the  wind  can 
play  among  its  chimneys  and  pointed  roofs.  The 
noise  which  has  taken  Colonel  Howard  from  his 
seat,  and  which  has  so  unnecessarily  alarmed  my 
cousin  Cicily,  is  nothing  but  the  ^Eolian  harp  of 
the  Abbey  sounding  a  double  bass." 

The  captain  fastened  on  her  composed  counte 
nance,  while  she  was  speaking,  a  look  of  open  ad 
miration,  that  brought,  though  tardily  the  colour 
more  deeply  to  her  cheeks:  and  he  answered  with 


THE    PILOT.  429 

something  extremely  equivocal,  both  in  his  empha 
sis  and  his  air — 

"  I  have  avowed  my  allegiance,  and  I  will  abide 
by  it.  So  long  as  Miss  Plowden  will  deign  to  be 
stow  her  company,  so  long  will  she  find  me  among 
her  most  faithful  and  persevering  attendants,  come 
who  may,  or  what  will." 

"  You  compel  me  to  retire,"  returned  Kathe- 
rine  rising,  "  whatever  may  have  been  my  gra 
cious  intentions  in  the  matter ;  for  even  female 
vanity  must  crimson,  at  an  adoration  so  profound 
as  that  which  can  chain  Captain  Borroughcliffe  to 
a  supper  table  !  As  your  alarm  has  now  dissipated, 
my  cousin,  wrill  you  lead  the  way  ?  Miss  Alice  and 
myself  attend  you." 

"  But  not  into  the  paddock,  surely,  Miss  Plow- 
den,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  the  door,  the  key  of 
which  you  have  just  turned,  communicates  with 
the  vestibule.  This  is  the  passage  to  the  drawing 
room." 

The  lady  faintly  laughed,  as  if  in  derision  of  her 
own  forgetfulness,  while  she  bowed  her  acknow 
ledgment,  and  moved  towards  the  proper  passage ; 
she  observed — 

"  The  madness  of  fear  has  assailed  some,  I  be 
lieve,  who  have  been  able  to  affect  a  better  dis 
guise  than  Miss  Howard." 

"  Is  it  the  fear  of  present  danger,  or  of  that 
which  is  in  reserve  ?"  asked  the  captain  ;  "  but, 
as  you  have  stipulated  so  generously  in  behalf  ot 
my  worthy  host  here,  and  of  one,  also,  who  shall 
be  nameless,  because  he  has  not  deserved  such  a 
favour  at  your  hands,  your  safety  shall  be  one  of 
my  especial  duties  in  these  times  of  peril." 

"There  is  peril,  then!"  exclaimed  Cecilia; 
;t  your  looks  announce  it,  Capt.  Borroughcliffe  ! 


430  THE    PILOT. 

The  changing  countenance  of  my  cousin  tells  me 
that  my  fears  are  too  true  !" 

The  soldier  had  now  risen  also,  and,  casting 
aside  the  air  of  badinage,  which  he  so  much  de 
lighted  in,  he  came  forward  into  the  centre  of  the 
apartment,  with  the  manner  of  one  who  felt  it  was 
time  to  be  serious. 

"  A  soldier  is  ever  in  peril,  when  the  enemies  of 
his  king  are  at  hand,  Miss  Howard,"  he  answered : 
"  and  that  such  is  now  the  case,  Miss  Plowden 
can  testify,  if  she  will.  But  you  are  the  allies  of 
both  parties — retire,  then,  to  your  own  apartments, 
and  await  the  result  of  the  struggle  which  is  at 
hand." 

"  You  speak  of  danger  and  hidden  perils,"  said 
Alice  Dunscombe  ;  "  know  ye  aught  that  justifies 
your  fears  ?" 

"  I  know  all,"  Borroughcliffe  coolly  replied. 

"  All !"  exclaimed  Katherine. 

"  All  ?"  echoed  Alice,  in  tones  of  horror.  "  If, 
then,  you  know  all,  you  must  know  his  desperate 
courage,  and  powerful  hand,  when  opposed — yield 
in  quiet,  and  he  will  not  harm  ye.  Believe  me, 
believe  one  who  knows  his  very  nature,  that  no 
lamb  can  be  more  gentle  than  he  would  be,  with 
unresisting  women  ;  nor  any  lion  more  fierce,  with 
his  enemies !" 

"  As  we  happen  not  to  be  of  the  feminine  gen 
der,"  returned  Borroughcliffe,  with  an  air  some 
what  splenetic,  "  we  must  abide  the  fury  of  the 
king  of  beasts.  His  paw  is,  even  now,  at  the  outer 
door ;  and,  if  my  orders  have  been  obeyed,  his  en 
trance  will  be  yet  easier,  than  that  of  the  wolf  to 
the  respectable  female  ancestor  of  the  little  red- 
riding-hood." 

"  Stay  your  hand  for  one  single  moment !"  said 


THE    PILOT.  431 

Katherine,  breathless  with  interest ;  c>  you  are  the 
master  of  my  secret,  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  and 
bloodshed  may  be  the  consequence.  I  can  yet  go 
forward,  and,  perhaps,  save  many  inestimable  lives, 
Pledge  to  me  your  honour,  that  they  who  come  hi 
ther  as  your  enemies,  this  night,  shall  depart  in 
peace,  and  I  will  pledge  to  you  my  life  for  the 
safety  of  the  Abbey." 

"  Oh !  hear  her,  and  shed  not  human  blood  !" 
cried  Cecilia. 

A  loud  crash  interrupted  further  speech,  and  the 
sounds  of  heavy  footsteps  were  heard  in  the  ad 
joining  room,  as  if  many  men  were  alighting  on  its 
floor,  in  quick  succession.  Borroughcliffe  drew 
back,  with  great  coolness,  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  large  apartment,  and  took  a  sheathed  sword 
from  the  table  where  it  had  been  placed ;  at  the 
same  moment  the  door  was  burst  open,  and  Barn- 
stable  entered  alone,  but  heavily  armed. 

"  You  are  my  prisoners,  gentlemen,"  said  the 
sailor,  as  he  advanced  ;  "  resistance  is  useless,  and 
without  it  you  shall  receive  favour.  Ha,  Miss  Plow- 
den  !  my  advice  was,  that  you  should  not  be  pre 
sent  at  this  scene." 

"  Barnstable,  we  are  betrayed !"  cried  the  agi 
tated  Katherine.  "  But  it  is  not  yet  too  late. 
Blood  has  not  yet  been  spilt,  and  you  can  retire, 
without  that  dreadful  alternative,  with  honour. 
Go,  then,  delay  not  another  moment ;  for,  should 
the  soldiers  of  Captain  Borroughcliffe  come  to  the 
rescue  of  their  commander,  the  Abbey  would  be  a 
scene  of  horror  !" 

"  Go  you  away  ;  go,  Katherine,'"  said  her  lover, 
with  impatience ;    "  this  is  no  place  for  such  as 
you.     But,  Captain  Borroughcliffe,  if  such  be  your 
name,  you  must  perceive  that  resistance  is  in  vain 
I  have  ten  good  pikes  in  this  outer  room,  in  iwen- 


432  THE    PILOT. 

ty  better  hands,  and  it  will  be  madness  to  fight 
against  such  odds." 

"  Show  me  your  strength,"  sail  the  captain, 
"  that  I  may  take  counsel  with  mine  honour." 

"  Your  honour  shall  be  appeased,  my  brave 
soldier,  for  such  is  your  bearing,  though  your 
livery  is  my  aversion,  and  your  cause  most  un 
holy  !  Heave  ahead,  boys  !  but  hold  your  hands 
for  orders." 

The  party  of  fierce-looking  sailors  whom  Barn- 
stable  led,  on  receiving  this  order,  rushed  into  the 
room  in  a  medley  ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  surly 
glances,  and  savage  characters  of  their  dress  and 
equipments,  they  struck  no  blow,  nor  committed 
any  act  of  hostility.  The  ladies  shrunk  back  ap 
palled,  as  this  terrific  little  band  took  possession 
of  the  hall ;  and  even  Borroughcliffe  was  seen  to 
fall  back  towards  a  door,  which,  in  some  measure, 
covered  his  retreat.  The  confusion  of  this  sudden 
movement  had  not  yet  subsided,  when  sounds  01 
strife  were  heard  rapidly  approaching  from  a  dis 
tant  part  of  the  building,  and  presently  one  of  the 
numerous  doors  of  the  apartment  was  violently 
opened,  when  two  of  the  garrison  of  the  Abbey 
rushed  into  the  hall,  vigorously  pressed  by  twice 
their  number  of  seamen,  seconded  by  Griffith, 
Manual,  and  Merry,  who  were  armed  with  such 
weapons  of  offence  as  had  presented  themselves  to 
their  hands,  at  their  unexpected  liberation.  There 
was  a  movement  on  the  part  of  the  seamen,  who 
already  were  in  possession  of  the  room,  that 
threatened  instant  death  to  the  fugitives ;  but 
Barnstable  beat  down  their  pikes  with  his  sword, 
and  sternly  ordered  them  to  fall  back.  Surprise 
produced  the  same  pacific  result  among  the  com 
batants  ;  and  as  the  soldiers  hastily  sought  a  refuge 
behind  their  own  officers,  and  the  released  cap- 


THE    PILOT.  433 

Ures,  with  their  liberators,  joined  the  body  of  their 
friends,  the  quiet  of  the  hall,  which  had  been  so 
rudely  interrupted,  was  soon  restored. 

"  You  see,  sir,"  said  Barnstable,  after  grasping 
the  hands  of  Griffith  and  Manual,  in  a  warm  and 
cordial  pressure,  "  that  all  my  plans  have  succeed 
ed.  Your  sleeping  guard  are  closely  watched  in 
their  barracks,  by  one  party,  our  officers  are  re 
leased,  and  your  sentinels  cut  off  by  another, 
while,  with  a  third,  I  hold  the  centre  of  the  Abbey, 
and  am,  substantially,  in  possession  of  your  own 
person.  In  consideration,  therefore,  of  what  is 
due  to  humanity,  and  to  the  presence  of  these  la 
dies,  let  there  be  no  struggle !  I  shall  impose  no 
difficult  terms,  nor  any  long  imprisonment." 

The  recruiting  officer  manifested  a  composure 
throughout  the  whole  scene,  that  would  have  ex 
cited  some  uneasiness  in  his  invaders  had  there 
been  opportunity  for  more  minute  observation  ;  but 
his  countenance  now  gradually  assumed  an  appear 
ance  of  anxiety,  and  his  head  was  frequently  turn 
ed,  as  if  listening  for  further,  and  more  important 
interruptions.  He  answered,  however,  to  this  ap 
peal  with  his  ordinary  deliberation. 

"  You  speak  of  conquests,  sir,  before  they  are 
achieved.  My  venerable  host  and  myself  are  not 
so  defenceless  as  you  may  choose  to  imagine." 
While  speaking  he  threw  aside  the  cloth  of  a  side 
table,  from  beneath  which,  the  colonel  and  himself 
were  instantly  armed  with  a  brace  of  pistols  each. 
"  Here  are  the  death  warrants  of  four  of  your 
party,  and  these  brave  fellows  at  my  back  can  ac 
count  for  two  more.  I  believe,  my  transatlantic 
warrior,  that  we  are  now  something  in  the  condi 
tion  of  Cortes  and  the  Mexicans,  when  the  former 
overran  part  of  your  continent — I  being  Cortes, 
armed  with  artificial  thunder  and  lightning,  and 
37 


434  THE    PILOT. 

you  the  Indians,  with  nothing  but  your  pikes  and 
slings,  and  such  other  antediluvian  inventions. 
Shipwrecks  and  sea-water  are  fatal  dampers  of 
gunpowder !" 

"  That  we  are  unprovided  with  fire  arms,  I  will 
not  deny,"  said  Barnstable  ;  "  but  we  are  men  who 
are  used,  from  infancy,  to  depend  on  our  good  right 
arms  for  life  and  safety,  and  we  know  how  to  use 
them,  though  we  should  even  grapple  with  death  ! 
As  for  the  trifles  in  your  hands,  gentlemen,  you 
are  not  to  suppose  that  men  who  are  trained  to 
look  in  at  one  end  of  a  thirty-two  pounder,  loaded 
with  grape,  while  the  match  is  put  to  the  other, 
will  so  much  as  wink  at  their  report,  though  you 
fired  them  by  fifties.  What  say  you,  boys !  is  a 
pistol  a  weapon  to  repel  boarders  ?" 

The  discordant  and  disdainful  laughs  that  burst 
from  the  restrained  seamen,  were  a  sufficient  pledge 
of  their  indifference  to  so  trifling  a  danger.  Bor- 
roughcliffe  noted  their  hardened  boldness,  and  tak 
ing  the  supper  bell,  which  was  lying  near  him,  he 
rang  it,  for  a  minute,  with  great  violence.  The 
heavy  tread  of  trained  footsteps  soon  followed  this 
extraordinary  summons ;  and  presently,  the  seve 
ral  doors  of  the  apartment  were  opened,  and  filled 
with  armed  soldiers,  wearing  the  livery  of  the 
English  crown. 

"  If  you  hold  these  smaller  weapons  in  such 
vast  contempt,"  said  the  recruiting  officer,  when 
he  perceived  that  his  men  had  possessed  them 
selves  of  all  the  avenues,  "  it  is  in  my  power  to 
try  the  virtue  of  some  more  formidable.  Aftei 
this  exhibition  of  my  strength,  gentlemen,  I  pre 
sume  you  cannot  hesitate  to  submit  as  prisoners  of 
war." 

The  seamen  had  been  formed  in  something  like 
military  array,  by  the  assiduity  of  Manual,  during 


THE    PILOT.  435 

the  preceding  dialogue  ;  and  as  the  different  doors 
had  discovered  fresh  accessions  to  the  strength  of 
the  enemy,  the  marine  industriously  offered  new 
fronts,  until  the  small  party  was  completely  ar 
ranged  in  a  hollow  square,  that  might  have  proved 
formidable  in  a  charge,  bristled  as  it  was  with  the 
deadly  pikes  of  the  Ariel. 

"  Here  has  been  some  mistake,"  said  Griffith, 
after  glancing  his  eye  at  the  formidable  array  of  the 
soldiers  ;  "  I  take  precedence  of  Mr.  Barnstable, 
and  I  shall  propose  to  you,  Captain  Borrough- 
cliffe,  terms  that  may  remove  this  scene  of  strife 
from  the  dwelling  of  Colonel  Howard." 

cc  The  dwelling  of  Colonel  Howard,"  cried  the 
veteran,  "  is  the  dwelling  of  his  king,  or  of  the 
meanest  servant  of  the  crown  !  so,  Borroughcliffe, 
spare  not  the  traitors  on  my  behalf;  accept  no 
other  terms  than  such  unconditional  submission  as 
is  meet  to  exact  from  the  rebellious  subjects  of  the 
Anointed  of  the  Lord." 

While  Griffith  spoke,  Barnstable  folded  his  arms, 
in  affected  composure,  and  glanced  his  eyes  ex 
pressively  at  the  shivering  Katherine,  who,  with 
her  companions,  still  continued  agitated  spectators 
of  all  that  passed,  chained  to  the  spot  by  their  ap 
prehensions  ;  but  to  this  formidable  denunciation 
of  the  master  of  the  Abbey  he  deemed  proper  to 
reply- 

'  Now,  by  every  hope  I  have  of  sleeping  again 
on  salt  water,  old  gentleman,  if  it  were  not  for  the 
presence  of  these  three  trembling  females,  but  I 
should  feel  tempted  to  dispute,  at  once,  the  title 
of  his  majesty — you  may  make  such  a  covenant  as 
YOU  will  with  Mr.  Griffith,  but  if  it  contain  one  syl 
lable  about  submission  to  your  king,  or  of  any  other 
allegiance,  than  that  which  I  owe  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  you  may 


436  THE    PILOT. 

as  well  considei  the  terms  violated  at  once  ,  for 
not  an  article  of  such  an  agreement  will  I  consider 
as  binding  on  me,  or  on  any  that  shall  choose  to 
follow  me  as  leader." 

"  Here  are  but  two  leaders,  Mr.  Barnstable," 
interrupted  the  haughty  Griffith  ;  "  the  one  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  other,  of  the  arms  of  America. 
Captain  Borroughcliffe,  to  you,  as  the  former,  I  ad 
dress  myself.  The  great  objects  of  the  contest, 
which  now  unhappily  divides  England  from  her 
ancient  colonies,  can  be,  in  no  degree,  affected  by 
the  events  of  this  night ;  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
by  a  rigid  adherence  to  military  notions,  much 
private  evil  and  deep  domestic  calamity  must  fol 
low  any  struggle  in  such  a  place.  We  have  but 
to  speak,  sir,  and  these  rude  men,  who  already 
stand  impatiently  handling  their  instruments  of 
death,  will  aim  them  at  each  other's  lives  ;  and  who 
can  say  that  he  shall  be  able  to  stay  their  hands 
when  and  where  he  will !  I  know  you  to  be  a 
soldier,  and  that  you  are  not  yet  to  learn  how 
much  easier  it  is  to  stimulate  to  blood,  than  to  glut 
vengeance." 

BorroughclifFe,  unused  to  the  admission  of  vio 
lent  emotions,  and  secure  in  the  superiority  of  his 
own  party,  both  in  numbers  and  equipments,  heard 
him  with  the  coolest  composure  to  the  end,  and 
then  answered  in  his  customary  manner — 

"  I  honour  your  logic,  sir.  Your  premises  are 
indisputable,  and  the  conclusion  most  obvious. 
Commit,  then,  those  worthy  tars  to  the  good  keep 
ing  of  honest  Drill,  who  will  see  their  famished  na 
tures  revived  by  divers  eatables,  and  a  due  pro 
portion  of  suitable  fluids  ;  while  we  can  discuss  the 
manner  in  which  you  are  to  return  to  the  colonies, 
around  a  bottle  of  liquor,  which  my  friend  Manual 
there,  assures  me  has  come  from  the  sunny  side 


THE   PILOT.  437 

of  the  island  of  Madeira,  to  be  drunk  in  a  bleak 
corner  of  that  of  Britain.  By  my  palate  f  but  the 
rascals  brighten  at  the  thought.  They  know  by 
instinct,  sir,  that  a  shipwrecked  mariner  is  a  fitter 
companion  to  a  ration  of  beef  and  a  pot  of  porter, 
that  to  such  unsightly  things  as  bayonets  and 
boarding-pikes !" 

"  Trifle  not  unseasonably !"  exclaimed  the  im 
patient  young  sailor.  "  You  have  the  odds  in  num 
bers,  but  whether  it  will  avail  you  much  in  a  dead 
ly  struggle  of  hand  to  hand,  is  a  question  you  must 
put  to  your  prudence  :  we  stand  not  here  to  ask 
terms,  but  to  grant  them.     You  must  be  brief,  sir, 
for  the  time  is  wasting  while  we  delay.". 

"  I  have  offered  to  you  the  means  of  obtaining 
m  perfection  the  enjoyment  of  the  three  most  an 
cient  of  the  numerous  family  of  the  arts — eating, 
drinking,  and  sleeping !  What  more  do  you  re 
quire  ?" 

"  That  you  order  these  men,  who  fill  the  pass  to 
the  outer  door,  to  fall  back  and  give  us  room.  1 
would  take,  in  peace,  these  armed  men  from  before 
the  eyes  of  those  who  are  unused  to  such  sights. 
Before  you  oppose  this  demand,  think  how  easily 
these  hardy  fellows  could  make  a  way  for  them 
selves,  against  your  divided  force." 

"  Your  companion,  the  experienced  Captain  Ma 
nual,  will  tell  you  that  such  a  manoeuvre  would  be 
very  unmilitary  with  a  superior  body  in  your 
rear !" 

"  I  have  not  leisure,  sir,  for  this  folly,"  cried 
the  indignant  Griffith.  "  Do  you  refuse  us  an  un 
molested  retreat  from  the  Abbey  ?" 

"  I  do." 

Griffith  turned,  with  a  look  of  extreme  emotion, 
to  the  ladies,  and  beckoned  to  them  to  retire,  una 
ble  to  give  utterance  to  his  wishes  in  words.     Af- 
37* 


438  THE    PILOT. 

ter  a  moment  of  deep  silence,  however,  be  once 
more  addressed  Borroughcliffe  in  the  tones  of  con 
ciliation. 

"  If  Manual  and  myself  will  return  to  our  pri 
sons,  and  submit  to  the  will  of  your  government," 
he  said,  "  can  the  rest  of  the  party  return  to  the 
frigate  unmolested  ?" 

"  They  cannot,"  replied  the  soldier,  who,  per 
ceiving  that  the  crisis  approached,  was  gradually 
losing  his  artificial  deportment  in  the  interest  of  the 
moment.  "  You,  and  all  others,  who  willingly  in 
vade  the  peace  of  these  realms,  must  abide  the  is 
sue." 

"  Then  God  protect  the  innocent  and  defend  the 
right !" 

"  Amen." 

"  Give  way,  villains !"  cried  Griffith,  facing  the 
party  that  held  the  outer  door ;  "  give  way,  or  you 
shall  be  riddled  with  our  pikes  !" 

"  Show  them  your  muzzles,  men !"  shouted 
Borroughcliffe ;  "  but  pull  no  trigger  till  they  ad 
vance." 

There  was  an  instant  of  bustle  and  preparation, 
in  which  the  rattling  of  fire  arms,  blended  with  the 
suppressed  execrations  and  threats  of  the  intended 
combatants  ;  and  Cecilia  and  Katherine  had  both 
covered  their  faces  to  veil  the  horrid  sight  that  was 
momentarily  expected,  when  Alice  Dunscombe  ad 
vanced,  boldly,  between  the  points  of  the  threat 
ening  weapons,  and  spoke  in  a  voice  that  stayed 
the  hands  that  were  already  uplifted. 

"  Hear  me,  men  !  if  men  ye  be,  and  not  demons, 
thirsting  for  each  other's  blood  ;  though  ye  walk 
abroad  in  the  semblance  of  him  who  died  that  ye 
might  be  elevated  to  the  rank  of  angels  !  call  ye 
this  war  ?  Is  this  the  glory  that  is  made  to  warm 
the  hearts  of  even  silly  and  confiding  women  ?  Is 


THE    PILOT.  439 

the  peace  of  families  to  be  destroyed  to  gratify 
your  wicked  lust  for  conquest ;  and  is  life  to  be 
taken  in  vain,  in  order  that  ye  may  boast  of  the 
foul  deed  in  your  wicked  revels  !  Fall  back,  then, 
ye  British  soldiers  !  if  ye  be  worthy  of  that  name, 
and  give  passage  to  a  woman  ;  and  remember  that 
the  first  shot  that  is  fired  will  be  buried  in  her  bo 
som  !" 

The  men,  thus  enjoined,  shrunk  before  her  com 
manding  mien,  and  a  way  was  made  for  her  exit 
through  that  very  door  which  Griffith  had,  in  vain, 
solicited  might  be  cleared  for  himself  and  party. 
But  Alice,  instead  of  advancing,  appeared  to  have 
suddenly  lost  the  use  of  those  faculties  which  had 
already  effected  so  much.  Her  figure  seemed  root 
ed  to  the  spot  where  she  had  spoken,  and  her  eyes 
were  fixed  in  a  settled  gaze  as  if  dwelling  on  some 
horrid  object.  While  she  yet  stood  in  this  attitude 
of  unconscious  helplessness,  the  door-way  became 
again  darkened,  and  the  figure  of  the  Pilot  was 
seen  on  its  threshold,  clad,  as  usual,  in  the  humble 
vestments  of  his  profession,  but  heavily  armed 
with  the  weapons  of  naval  war.  For  an  instant,  he 
stood  a  silent  spectator  of  the  scene  ;  and  then  ad 
vanced  calmly,  but  with  searching  eyes,  into  the 
centre  of  the  apartment. 


CHAPTEK  XXVIIL 


Don  Pedrc.    Welcome  Seignior:  you  are  almost  come  to  part,  almost  a  fregr 

Much  ado  about  nothing 


"  DOWN  with  jour  arms,  you  Englishmen  !"  said 
the  daring  intruder;  "and  you,  who  fight  in  the 
cause  of  sacred  liberty,  stay  your  hands,  that  no 
unnecessary  blood  may  flow*  Yield  yourself,  proud 
Briton,  to  the  power  of  the  Thirteen  Republics  !" 

"  Ha !"  exclaimed  Borroughcliffe,  grasping  a 
pistol,  with  an  air  of  great  resolution,  "  the  work 
thickens — I  had  not  included  this  man  in  my  esti 
mate  of  their  numbers.  Is  he  a  Samson,  that  his 
single  arm  can  change  the  face  of  things  so  sudden 
ly  !  Down  with  your  own  weapon,  you  masque- 
rader,  or  at  the  report  of  this  pistol,  your  body 
shall  become  a  target  for  twenty  bullets." 

"  And  thine  for  a  hundred  !"  returned  the  pilot 
— "  without  there  !  wind  your  catt,  fellow,  and 
bring  in  our  numbers.  We  will  let  this  confident 
gentleman  feel  his  weakness." 

He  had  not  done  speaking,  before  the  shrill 
whistle  of  a  boatswain  rose  gradually  on  the  ears 
of  the  listeners,  until  the  sense  of  hearing  became 
painfully  oppressed,  by  the  piercing  sounds  that 
rung  under  the  arched  roof  of  the  half,  and  pene 
trated  even  to  the  most  distant  recesses  of  the  Ab- 


THE    PILOT.  441 

bey.  x  A  tremendous  rush  of  men  followed,  who 
drove  in  before  them  the  terrified  fragment  of  Bor- 
roughcliffe's  command,  that  had  held  the  vestibule } 
and  the  outer  room  became  filled  with  a  dark  mass 
of  human  bodies. 

"  Let  them  hear  ye,  lads  !"  cried  their  leader 
u  the  Abbey  is  your  own  !" 

The  roaring  of  a  tempest  was  not  louder  than 
the  shout  that  burst  from  his  followers,  who  con 
tinued  their  cheers,  peal  on  peal,  until  the  very 
roof  of  the  edifice  appeared  to  tremble  with  their 
vibrations.  Numerous  dark  and  shaggy  heads 
were  seen  moving  around  the  passage  ;  some  cased 
in  the  iron-bound  caps  of  the  frigate's  boarders, 
and  others  glittering  with  the  brazen  ornaments 
of  her  marine  guard.  The  sight  of  the  latter  did 
not  fail  to  attract  the  eye  of  Manual,  who  rushed 
among  the  throng,  and  soon  re-appeared,  followed 
by  a  trusty  band  .of  his  own  men,  who  took  pos 
session  of  the  post  held  by  the  soldiers  of  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  while  the  dialogue  was  continued  be 
tween  the  leaders  of  the  adverse  parties. 

Thus  far  Colonel  Howard  had  yielded  to  his 
guest,  with  a  deep  reverence  for  the  principles  of 
military  subordination,  the  functions  of  a  com 
mander,  but,  now  that  affairs  appeared  to  change 
so  materially,  he  took  on  himself  the  right  to  ques 
tion  these  intruders  into  his  dwelling. 

"  By  what  authority,  sir,"  the  Colonel  demand 
ed,  "  is  it  that  you  dare  thus  to  invade  the  castle 
of  a  subject  of  this  realm  ?  Do  you  come  backed 
by  the  commission  of  the  lord  lieutenant  of  the 
county,  or  has  your  warrant  the  signature  of  His 
Majesty's  Secretary  for  the  Home  Department?" 

"  I  bear  no  commission  from  any  quarter,"  re 
turned  the  Pilot ;  "  I  rank  only  an  humble  fol 
lower  of  the  friends  of  America ;  and  having  led 


442  THE    PILOT. 

these  gentlemen  into  danger,  I  have  thought  it  my 
duty  to  see  them  extricated.  They  are  now  safe ; 
and  the  right  to  command  all  that  hear  me,  rests 
with  Mr.  Griffith,  who  is  commissioned  by  the 
Continental  Congress  for  such  service." 

When  he  had  spoken  he  fell  back  from  the  po 
sition  he  occupied,  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  to 
one  of  its  sides,  where,  leaning  his  body  against 
the  wainscot,  he  stood  a  silent  observer  of  what 
followed — 

"  It  appears,  then,  that  it  is  to  you,  degenerate 
son  of  a  most  worthy  father,  that  I  must  repeat  my 
demand,"  continued  the  veteran.  "  By  what  right 
is  my  dwelling  thus  rudely  assailed  ?  and  why  is 
my  quiet,  and  the  peace  of  those  I  protect,  so  dar 
ingly  violated  ?" 

"  I  might  answer  you,  Col.  Howard,  by  saying 
that  it  is  according  to  the  laws  of  arms,  or  rather 
in  retaliation  for  the  thousand  evils  that  your  Eng 
lish  troops  have  inflicted,  between  Maine  and 
Georgia ;  but  I  wish  not  to  increase  the  unplea 
sant  character  of  this  scene,  and  will  tell  you,  that 
our  advantage  shall  be  used  with  moderation. 
The  instant  that  our  men  can  be  collected,  and 
our  prisoners  properly  secured,  your  dwelling  shall 
be  restored  to  your  authority.  We  are  no  free 
booters,  sir,  and  you  will  find  it  so  after  our  de 
parture.  Captain  Manual,  draw  off  your  guard 
into  the  grounds,  and  make  your  dispositions  for  a 
return  march  to  our  boats — let  the  boarders  fall 
back,  there !  out  with  ye  !  out  with  ye — tumble 
out,  you  boarders !" 

The  amicable  order  of  the  young  lieutenant, 
which  was  delivered  after  the  stern,  quick  fashion 
of  his  profession,  operated  on  the  cluster  of  dark 
figures,  that  were  grouped  around  the  door,  like  a 
charm  ;  and  as  the  men  whom  Barnstable  had  led. 


THE    PILOT  443 

followed  their  shipmates  into  the  court-yard,  the 
room  was  now  left  to  such  only,  as  might  be  termed 
the  gentlemen  of  the  invading  party,  and  the  la- 
mily  of  Colonel  Howard. 

Barnstable  had  continued  silent  since  his  senior 
officer  had  assumed  the  command,  listening  most 
attentively  to  each  syllable  that  fell  from  either 
side  ;  but  now  that  so  few  remained,  and  the  time 
pressed,  he  spoke  again — 

"  If  we  are  to  take  boat  so  soon,  Mr.  Griffith,  it 
would  be  seemly  that  due  preparations  should  be 
made  to  receive  the  ladies,  who  are  to  honour  us 
with  their  presence  ;  shall  I  take  that  duty  on  my 
self?" 

The  abrupt  proposal  produced  a  universal  sur 
prise  in  his  hearers  ;  though  the  abashed  and  con 
scious  expression  of  Katherine  Plowden's  features 
sufficiently  indicated,  that  to  her,  at  least,  it  was 
not  altogether  unexpected.  The  long  silence  that 
succeeded  the  question  was  interrupted  by  Colo 
nel  Howard. 

"  Ye  are  masters,  gentlemen ;  help  yourselves 
to  whatever  best  suits  your  inclinations.  My 
dwelling,  my  goods,  and  my  wards,  are  alike  at 
your  disposal — or,  perhaps  Miss  Alice,  here,  good 
and  kind  Miss  Alice  Dunscombe,  may  suit  the  taste 
of  some  among  ye  !  Ah  !  Edward  Griffith  !  Ed 
ward  Griffith  !  little  did  I  ever — " 

"  Breathe  not  that  name  in  levity  again,  thou 
scoffer,  or  even  your  years  may  prove  a  feeble  pro 
tection  !"  said  a  stern,  startling  voice  from  behind. 
All  eyes  turned  involuntarily  at  the  unexpected 
sounds,  and  the  muscular  form  of  the  Pilot  was 
seen  resuming  its  attitude  of  repose  against  the 
wall,  though  every  fibre  of  his  frame  was  working 
with  suppressed  passion. 

When  the  astonished  looks  of  Griffith  ceased  to 


4  14  THE    PILOT. 

dwell  on  this  extraordinary  exhibition  of  mteiest 
in  his  companion,  they  were  turned  imploringly 
towards  the  fair  cousins,  who  still  occupied  the  dis 
tant  corner,  whither  fear  had  impelled  them. 

"  I  have  said,  that  we  are  not  midnight  marau 
ders,  Colonel  Howard,"  he  replied  :  "  but  if  any 
there  be  here,  who  will  deign  to  commit  them 
selves  to  our  keeping,  I  trust  it  will  not  be  neces 
sary  to  say,  at  this  hour,  what  will  be  their  recep 
tion." 

"  We  have  not  time  for  unnecessary  compli 
ments,"  cried  the  impatient  Barnstable  ;  "  here  is 
Merry,  who,  by  years  and  blood,  is  a  suitable  as 
sistant  for  them,  in  arranging  their  little  baggage — • 
what  say  you,  urchin,  can  you  play  the  lady's  maid 
on  emergency  ?" 

"  Ay,  sir,  and  better  than  I  acted  the  pedler- 
boy,"  cried  the  gay  youngster  ;  "  to  have  my  mer 
ry  cousin  Kate  and  my  good  cousin  Cicily  for 
shipmates  I  could  play  our  common  grandmother  T 
Come,  coz,  let  us  be  moving  ;  you  will  have  to  al 
low  a  Httle  lee-way  in  time,  for  my  awkward 
ness." 

"  Stand  back,  young  man,"  said  Miss  Howard, 
repulsing  his  familiar  attempt  to  take  her  arm  ; 
and  then  advancing,  with  a  maidenly  dignity,  nigh- 
er  to  her  guardian,  she  continued,  "  I  cannot  know 
what  stipulations  have  been  made  by  my  cousin- 
Plowden,  in  the  secret  treaty  she  has  made  this 
night  with  Mr.  Barnstable ;  this  for  myself,  Colo 
nel  Howard,  I  would  have  you  credit  your  bro 
ther's  child  when  she  says,  that,  to  her,  the  events 
of  the  hour  have  not  been  more  unexpected  than 
to  yourself." 

The  veteran  gazed  at  her,  for  a  moment,  with 
an  expression  of  his  eye  that  denoted  reviving  ten 
derness  ;  but  gloomy  doubts  appeared  to  cross  his 


THE    PILOT.  445 

nimd  again,  and  he  shook  his  head,  as  he  walked 
proudly  away. 

"  Nay,  then,"  added  Cecilia,  her  head  dropping 
meekly  on  her  bosom,  "  I  may  be  discredited  by 
my  uncle,  but  I  cannot  be  disgraced  without  some 
act  of  my  own." 

She  slowly  raised  her  mild  countenance  again, 
and  bending  her  eyes  on  her  lover,  she  continued, 
while  a  rich  rush  of  blood  passed  over  her  fine 
features — 

"  Edward  Griffith,  I  will  not,  I  cannot  say  how 
humiliating  it  is  to  think  that  you  can,  for  an  in 
stant,  believe  !  would  again  forget  myself  so  much 
as  to  wish  to  desert  him  whom  God  has  given  me 
for  a  protector,  for  one  chosen  by  my  own  erring 
passions.  And  you,  Andrew  Merry  !  learn  to  re 
spect  the  child  of  your  mother's  sister,  if  not  for 
her  own  sake,  at  least  for  that  of  her  who  watched 
your  cradle  !" 

"  Here  appears  to  be  some  mistake,"  said  Barn- 
stable,  who  participated,  however,  in  no  trifling 
degree,  in  the  embarrassment  of  the  abashed  boy  ; 
"  but,  like  all  other  mistakes  on  such  subjects,  it 
can  be  explained  away,  I  suppose.  Mr.  Griffith, 
it  remains  for  you  to  speak  : — damn  it,  man,"  he 
whispered,  "  you  are  as  dumb  as  a  cod-fish — I  am 
sure  so  fine  a  woman  is  worth  a  little  fair  weather 
talk  : — you  are  muter  than  a  four-footed  beast — 
even  an  ass  can  bray  *" 

"  We  will  hasten  our  departure,  Mr.  Barnsta- 
ble,"  said  Griffith,  sighing  heavily,  and  rousing 
himself,  as  if  from  a  trance.  "  These  rude  sights 
cannot  but  appal  the  ladies.  You  will  please,  sir, 
to  direct  the  order  of  our  march  to  the  shore. 
Captain  Manual  has  charge  of  our  prisoners,  who 
must  all  be  secured,  to  answer  for  an  equal  num 
ber  of  our  own  countrymen." 
38 


446  THE    PILOT. 

"  And  our  countrywomen  !"  said  Barnstable- 
"  are  they  to  be  forgotten,  in  the  selfish  recollec 
tion  of  our  own  security  ?" 

"  With  them  we  have  no  right  to  interfere,  un 
less  at  their  request." 

"  By  Heaven  !  Mr.  Griffith,  this  may  smack  of 
learning,"  cried  the  other,  "  and  it  may  plead  book 
ish  authority  as  its  precedent ;  but  let  me  tell  you, 
sir,  it  savours  but  a  little  of  sailor's  love." 

"  Is  it  unworthy  of  a  seaman,  and  a  gentleman, 
to  permit  the  woman  he  calls  his  mistress  to  be  so, 
other  than  in  name  ?" 

"  Well,  then,  Griff,  I  pity  you,  from  my  soul. 
I  would  rather  have  had  a  sharp  struggle  for  the 
happiness  that  I  shall  now  obtain  so  easily,  than  that 
you  should  be  thus  cruelly  disappointed.  But  you 
cannot  blame  me,  my  friend,  that  I  avail  myself  ot 
fortune's  favour.  Miss  Plowden,  your  fair  hand. 
Colonel  Howard,  I  return  you  a  thousand  thanks 
for  the  care  you  have  taken,  hitherto,  of  this  pre 
cious  charge ;  and  believe  me,  sir,  that  I  speak 
frankly,  when  I  say,  that  next  to  myself,  I  should 
choose  to  intrust  her  with  you  in  preference  to  any 
man  on  earth." 

The  Colonel  turned  to  the  speaker,  and  bowed 
low,  while  he  answered  with  grave  courtesy — 

"  Sir,  you  repay  my  slight  services  with  too 
much  gratitude.  If  Miss  Katherine  Plowden  has 
not  become  under  my  guardianship  all  that  her 
good  father,  Captain  John  Plowden,  of  the  Royal 
Navy,  could  have  wished  a  daughter  of  his  to  be, 
the  fault,  unquestionably,  is  to  be  attributed  to  my 
inability  to  instruct,  and  to  no  inherent  quality  in 
the  young  lady  herself.  I  will  not  say,  take  her, 
sir,  since  you  have  her  in  your  possession  already, 
and  it  would  be  out  of  my  power  to  alter  the  ar 
rangement  ;  therefore,  I  can  only  wish  that  you 


THE    PILOT.  447 

may  find  her  as  dutiful,  as  a  wife,  as  she  has  been, 
hitherto,  as  award  and  a  subject." 

Katherine  had  yielded  her  hand,  passively,  to 
her  lover,  and  suffered  him  to  lead  her  more  into 
the  circle  than  she  had  before  been  ;  but  now  she 
threw  off  his  arm,  and  shaking  aside  the  dark  curls 
which  she  had  rather  invited  to  fall  in  disorder 
around  her  brow,  she  raised  her  face  and  looked 
proudly  up,  with  an  eye  that  sparkled  with  the 
spirit  of  its  mistress,  and  a  face  that  grew  pale  with 
emotion  at  each  moment,  as  she  proceeded — 

"  Gentlemen,  the  one  may  be  as  ready  to  re 
ceive  as  the  other  is  to  reject ;  but  has  the  daugh 
ter  of  John  Plowden  no  voice  in  this  cool  disposal 
of  her  person  ?  If  her  guardian  tires  of  her  pre 
sence,  other  habitations  may  be  found,  without  in 
flicting  so  severe  a  penalty  on  this  gentleman,  as 
to  compel  him  to  provide  for  her  accommodation 
in  a  vessel  which  must  be  already  straitened  for 
room  !" 

She  turned,  and  rejoined  her  cousin  with  such 
an  air  of  maidenly  resentment,  as  a  young  woman 
would  be  apt  to  discover,  who  found  herself  the 
subject  of  matrimonial  arrangement,  without  her 
own  feelings  being  at  all  consulted.  Barnstable, 
who  knew  but  little  of  the  windings  of  the  female 
heart,  or  how  necessary  to  his  mistress,  notwith 
standing  her  previous  declarations,  the  counte 
nance  of  Cecilia  was,  to  any  decided  and  open  act 
in  his  favour,  stood  in  stupid  wonder  at  her  decla 
ration.  He  could  not  conceive  that  a  woman  who 
had  already  ventured  so  much  in  secret  in  his  be 
half,  and  who  had  so  often  avowed  her  weakness, 
should  shrink  to  declare  it  again,  at  such  a  crisis, 
though  the  eyes  of  a  universe  were  on  her  !  He 
looked  from  one  of  the  party  to  the  other,  and  met 
in  every  face  an  expression  of  delicate  reserve,  ex- 


448  THE    PILOT. 

cept  in  those  of  the  guardian  of  his  mistress,  and 
of  Borroughcliffe. 

The  Colonel  had  given  a  glance  of  returning 
favour  at  her,  whom,  he  now  conceived,  to  be  his 
repentant  ward,  while  the  countenance  of  the  en 
trapped  Captain  exhibited  a  look  of  droll  surprise, 
blended  with  the  expression  of  bitter  ferocity  it 
had  manifested  since  the  discovery  of  his  own 
mishap. 

"  Perhaps,  sir,"  said  Barnstable,  addressing  the 
latter,  fiercely,  "  you  see  something  amusing  about 
the  person  of  this  lady,  to  divert  you  thus  unsea 
sonably.  We  tolerate  no  such  treatment  of  oui 
women  in  America  !" 

"  Nor  do  we  quarrel  before  ours  in  England," 
returned  the  soldier,  throwing  back  the  fierce 
glance  of  the  sailor  with  interest ;  "  but  I  was 
thinking  of  the  revolutions  that  time  can  produce  ! 
nothing  more  I  do  assure  you.  It  is  not  half  an 
hour  since  I  thought  myself  a  most  happy  fellow  ; 
secure  in  my  plans  for  overreaching  the  scheme 
you  had  laid  to  surprise  me ;  and  now  I  am  as  mi 
serable  a  dog  as  wears  a  single  epaulette,  and  has 
no  hope  of  seeing  its  fellow  !" 

"  And  in  what  manner,  sir,  can  this  sudden 
change  apply  to  me  ?"  asked  Katherine,  with  all 
her  spirit. 

"  Certainly  not  to  your  perseverance  in  the  pro 
ject  to  assist  my  enemies,  madam,"  returned  the 
soldier  with  affected  humility ;  "  nor  to  your  zeal 
for  their  success,  or  your  consummate  coolness  at 
the  supper  table !  But  I  find  it  is  time  that  I 
should  be  superannuated — I  can  no  longer  serve 
my  king  with  credit,  and  should  take  to  serving 
my  God,  like  all  other  worn-out  men  of  the  world  ! 
My  hearing  is  surely  defective,  or  a  paddock  wall 
has  a  most  magical  effect  in  determining  sounds  !' 


THE    PILOT.  449 

Katherine  waited  not  to  hear  the  close  of  this 
sentence,  but  walked  to  a  distant  part  of  the 
room,  to  conceal  the  burning  blushes  that  covered 
her  countenance.  The  manner  in  which  the  plans 
of  Borroughcliffe  had  become  known  to  his  foe,  was 
no  longer  a  mystery.  Her  conscience  also  re 
proached  her  a  little,  with  some  unnecessary  co 
quetry  as  she  remembered,  that  quite  one  half  of 
the  dialogue  between  her  lover  and  herself,  under 
the  shadow  of  that  very  wall  to  which  Borrough 
cliffe  alluded,  had  been  on  a  subject  altogether  fo 
reign  to  contention  and  tumults.  As  the  feelings 
of  Barnstable  were  by  no  means  so  sensitive  as 
those  of  his  mistress,  and  his  thoughts  much  occu 
pied  with  the  means  of  attaining  his  object,  he  did 
not  so  readily  comprehend  the  indirect  allusion  of 
the  soldier,  but  turned  abruptly  away  to  Griffith, 
and  observed,  with  a  serious  air — 

"  I  feel  it  my  .duty,  Mr.  Griffith,  to  suggest, 
that  we  have  standing  instructions  to  secure  all  the 
enemies  of  America,  wherever  they  may  be  found, 
and  to  remind  you,  that  the  States  have  not  hesi 
tated  to  make  prisoners  of  females,  in  many  in 
stances." 

"  Bravo  !"  cried  Borroughcliffe  ;  "  if  the  ladies 
will  not  go  as  your  mistresses,  take  them  as  your 
captives  !" 

"  'Tis  well  for  you,  sir,  that  you  are  a  captive 
yourself,  or  you  should  be  made  to  answer  for  this 
speech,"  retorted  the  irritated  Barnstable.  "  It  is 
a  responsible  command,  Mr.  Griffith,  and  must  not 
be  disregarded." 

"  To  your  duty,  Mr.  Barnstable,"  said  Griffith, 
again  arousing  from  deep  abstraction  ,  "  you  have 
your  orders,  sir  ;  let  them  be  executed  promptly." 

"  I  have  also  the  orders  of  our  common  supe 
rior,  Capt.  Munson,  Mr.  Griffith ;  and  I  do  assure 
38* 


450  THE    PILOT. 

vou,  sir,  that  in  making  out  my  instructions  for  the 
Ariel — poor  thing  !  there  are  no  two  of  her  tim 
bers  hanging  together — but  my  instructions  were 
decidedly  particular  on  that  head." 

"  And  my  orders  now  supersede  them." 

"  But  am  I  justifiable  in  obeying  a  verbal  order 
from  an  inferior,  in  direct  opposition  to  a  written 
instruction  ?" 

Griffith  had  hitherto  manifested  in  his  deport 
ment  nothing  more  than  a  cold  determination  to 
act,  but  the  blood  now  flew  to  every  vessel  in  his 
cheeks  and  forehead,  and  his  dark  eyes  flashed 
fire,  as  he  cried  authoritatively — 

"  How,  sir  !  do  you  hesitate  to  obey  ?" 

"  By  heaven,  sir,  I  would  dispute  the  command 
of  the  Continental  Congress  itself,  should  they  bid 
me  so  far  to  forget  my  duty  to — to — " 

"  Add  yourself,  sir  ! — Mr.  Barnstable,  let  this  be 
the  last  of  it.  To  your  duty,  sir." 

"  My  duty  calls  me  here,  Mr.  Griffith." 

"  I  must  act,  then,  or  be  bearded  by  my  own 
officers.  Mr.  Merry,  direct  Captain  Manual  to 
send  in  a  serjeant  and  a  file  of  marines." 

"  Bid  him  come  on  himself!"  cried  Barnstable, 
maddened  to  desperation  by  his  disappointment ; 
"  'tis  not  his  whole  corps  that  can  disarm  me — let 
them  come  on  !  Hear,  there,  you  Ariels !  rally 
around  your  captain." 

"  The  man  among  them  who  dares  to  cross  that 
threshold  without  my  order,  dies,"  cried  Griffith, 
menacing  with  a  naked  hanger  the  seamen  who 
had  promptly  advanced  at  the  call  of  their  old  com 
mander.  "  Yield  your  sword,  Mr.  Barnstable,  and 
spare  yourself  the  disgrace  of  having  it  forced  from 
you  by  a  common  soldier." 

"  Let  me  see  the  dog  who  dare  attempt  it !" 
exclaimed  Barnstable,  flourishing  his  weapon  in 


THE    PILOT.  451 

fierce  anger.  Griffith  had  extended  his  own  arm, 
in  the  earnestness  of  his  feelings,  and  their  hangers 
crossed  each  other.  The  clashing  of  the  steel 
operated  on  both  like  the  sound  of  the  clarion  on  a 
war-horse,  and  there  were  sudden  and  rapid  blows, 
and  as  rapid  parries,  exchanged  between  the  flash 
ing  weapons. 

"  Barnstable !  Barnstable  !"  cried  Katherine, 
rushing  into  his  arms,  "  I  will  go  with  you  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth  !" 

Cecilia  Howard  did  not  speak ;  but  when  Grif 
fith  recovered  his  coolness,  he  beheld  her  beauti 
ful  form  kneeling  at  his  feet,  with  her  pale  face 
bent  imploringly  on  his  own  disturbed  countenance. 
The  cry  of  Miss  Plowden  had  separated  the  com 
batants,  before  an  opportunity  for  shedding  blood 
had  been  afforded ;  but  the  young  men  exchanged 
looks  of  keen  resentment,  notwithstanding  the 
interference  of  their  mistresses.  At  this  moment 
Col.  Howard  advanced,  and  raising  his  niece  from 
her  humble  posture,  said — 

"  This  is  not  a  situation  for  a  child  of  Harry 
Howard,  though  he  knelt  in  the  presence,  and  be 
fore  the  throne  of  her  Sovereign.  Behold,  my 
dear  Cecilia,  the  natural  consequences  of  this  re 
bellion  !  It  scatters  discord  in  their  ranks  ;  and, 
by  its  damnable  levelling  principles,  destroys  all 
distinction  of  rank  among  themselves ;  even  these 
rash  boys  know  not  where  obedience  is  due  !" 

"  It  is  due  to  me,"  said  the  Pilot,  who  now 
stepped  forward  among  the  agitated  group,  "  and 
it  is  time  that  I  enforce  it.  Mr.  Griffith,  sheath 
your  sword.  And  you,  sir,  who  have  defied  the 
authority  of  your  senior  officer,  and  have  forgot 
ten  the  obligation  of  your  oath,  submit,  and  return 
to  your  duty." 

Griffith  started  at  the  sounds  of  his  calm  voice 


452  THE    PILOT. 

as  if  with  sudden  recollection  ;  and  then  bowing 
low,  he  returned  the  weapon  to  its  scabbard.  But 
Barnstable  still  encircled  the  waist  of  his  mistress 
with  one  arm,  while  with  the  other  he  brandished 
his  hanger,  and  laughed  with  scorn  a.t  this  extraor 
dinary  assumption  of  authority. 

"  And  who  is  this  !"  he  cried,  "  who  dare  give 
such  an  order  to  me  !" 

The  eyes  of  the  Pilot  flashed  with  a  terrible  fire, 
while  a  fierce  glow  seemed  to  be  creeping  over  his 
whole,  frame,  which  actually  quivered  with  pas 
sion.  But,  suppressing  this  exhibition  of  his  feel 
ings,  by  a  sudden  and  powerful  effort,  he  answered, 
in  an  emphatic  manner — 

"  One  who  has  a  right  to  order,  and  who  will  be 
obeyed  !" 

The  extraordinary  manner  of  the  speaker  con 
tributed  as  much  as  his  singular  assertion  to  in 
duce  Barnstable,  in  his  surprise,  to  lower  the  point 
of  his  weapon,  with  an  air  that  might  easily  have 
been  mistaken  for  submission.  The  Pilot  fastened 
his  glowing  eyes  on  him,  for  an  instant,  and  then 
turning  to  the  rest  of  the  listeners,  he  continued, 
more  mildly — 

"  It  is  true  that  we  came  not  here  as  marauders, 
and  that  our  wish  is,  to  do  no  unnecessary  acts  of 
severity  to  the  aged  and  the  helpless.  But  this 
officer  of  the  Crown,  and  this  truant  American  in 
particular,  are  fairly  our  prisoners ;  as  such,  they 
must  be  conducted  on  board  our  ship." 

"  But  the  main  object  of  our  expedition  ?"  said 
Griffith. 

"  'Tis  lost,"  returned  the  Pilot,  hastily—"  'tis 
sacrificed  to  more  private  feelings  ;  'tis  like  a  hun 
dred  others,  ended  in  disappointment,  and  is  for 
gotten,  sir,  for  ever.  But  the  interests  of  the  Re 
publics  must  not  be  neglected,  Mr.  Griffith. — 


THE    PILOT.  453 

Though  we  are  not  madly  to  endanger  the  lives 
of  those  gallant  fellows,  to  gain  a  love-smile  from 
one  young  beauty,  neither  are  we  to  forget  the 
advantages  they  may  have  obtained  for  us,  in  or 
der  to  procure  one  of  approbation  from  another. 
This  Colonel  Howard  will  answer  well  in  a  bar 
gain  with  the  minions  of  the  Crown,  and  may  pur 
chase  the  freedom  of  some  worthy  patriot  who  is 
deserving  of  his  liberty.  Nay,  nay,  suppress  that 
haughty  look,  and  turn  that  proud  eye  on  any,  ra 
ther  than  me  !  he  goes  to  the  frigate,  sir,  and  "that 
immediately." 

"  Then,"  said  Cecilia  Howard,  timidly  approach 
ing  the  spot  where  her  uncle  stood,  a  disdainful 
witness  of  the  dissensions  amongst  his  captors  ; 
"  then,  will  I  go  with  him  !  He  shall  never  be  a 
resident  among  his  enemies  alone  !" 

"  It  would  be  more  ingenuous,  and  more  wor 
thy  of  my  brother's  daughter,"  said  her  uncle, 
coldly,  "  if  she  ascribed  her  willingness  to  depart 
to  its  proper  motive."  Disregarding  the  look  of 
deep  distress  with  which  Cecilia  received  this 
mortifying  rejection  of  her  tender  attention,  the 
old  man  walked  towards  Borroughcliffe,  who  was 
gnawing  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  in  very  vexation  at 
the  downfall  of  his  high-raised  hopes,  and  placing 
himself  by  his  side,  with  an  air  of  infinitely  digni 
fied  submission,  he  continued,  u  act  your  pleasure 
on  us,  gentlemen  :  you  are  the  conquerors,  and 
we  must  even  submit.  A  brave  man  knows  as 
well  how  to  yield  with  decorum,  as  to  defend  him 
self  stoutly,  when  he  is  not  surprised,  as  we  have 
been.  But  if  an  opportunity  should  ever  offer ! — 
Act  your  pleasures,  gentlemen  ;  no  two  lambs 
were  ever  half  so  meek  as  Captain  Borroughcliffe 
and  myself." 

The  smile  of  affected,  but  bitter  resignation,  that 


454  THE    PILOT. 

the  colonel  bestowed  on  his  fellow-prisoner,  wag 
returned  by  that  officer  with  an  attempt  at  risibi 
lity  that  abundantly  betokened  the  disturbed  state 
of  his  feelings.  The  two,  however,  succeeded  in 
so  far  maintaining  appearances,  as  to  contemplate 
the  succeeding  movements  of  the  conquerors  with 
a  sufficient  degree  of  composuie. 

The  colonel  steadily  and  coldly  rejected  the  ad 
vances  of  his  niece,  who  bowed  meekly  to  his  will, 
and  relinquished,  for  the  present,  the  hope  of 
bringing  him  to  a  sense  of  his  injustice.  She, 
however,  employed  herself  in  earnest,  to  give  such 
directions  as  were  necessary  to  enforce  the  reso 
lution  she  had  avowed,  and  in  this  unexpected 
employment  she  found  both  a  ready  and  a  willing 
assistant  in  her  cousin.  The  latter,  unknown  to 
Miss  Howard,  had,  in  anticipation  of  some  such 
event  as  the  present,  long  since  made,  in  secret, 
all  those  preparations  which  might  become  neces 
sary  to  a  sudden  flight  from  the  Abbey.  In  con 
junction  with  her  lover  then,  who,  perceiving  that 
the  plan  of  the  Pilot  was  furthering  his  own  views, 
deemed  it  most  wise  to  forget  his  quarrel  with  that 
mysterious  individual,  she  flew  to  point  out  the 
means  of  securing  those  articles  which  were  al 
ready  in  preparation.  Barnstable  and  Merry  ac 
companied  her  light  steps  among  the  narrow,  dark 
passages  of  the  Abbey,  with  the  utmost  delight ; 
the  former  repeatedly  apostrophizing  her  wit  and 
beauty,  and,  indeed,  all  of  her  various  merits,  and 
the  latter,  laughing,  and  indulging  those  buoyant 
spirits,  that  a  boy  of  his  years  and  reflection  might 
be  supposed  to  feel,  in  such  a  horrid  scene.  It 
was  fortunate  for  her  cousin,  that  Katherine  had 
possessed  so  much  forethought,  for  the  attention 
of  Cecilia  Howard  was  directed  much  more  to  the 
comforts  of  her  uncle,  than  to  those  which  were 


THE    PILOT.  455 

necessary  for  herself.  Attended  by  Alice  Duns- 
combe,  the  young  mistress  of  St.  Ruth  moved 
through  the  solitary  apartments  of  the  building, 
listening  to  the  mild,  religious  consolation  of  her 
companion,  in  silence,  at  times  yielding  to  those 
bursts  of  mortified  feeling,  that  she  could  not  re 
press,  or  again  as  calmly  giving  her  orders  to  her 
maids,  as  if  the  intended  movement  was  one  of  but 
ordinary  interest.  All  this  time  the  party  in  the 
dining  hall  remained  stationary.  The  Pilot,  as  if 
satisfied  with  what  he  had  already  done,  sunk  back 
to  his  reclining  attitude  against  the  wall,  though 
his  eyes  keenly  watched  every  movement  of 
the  preparations,  in  a  manner  which  denoted  that 
his  was  the  master  spirit  that  directed  the  whole. 
Griffith  had,  however,  resumed,  in  appearance,  the 
command,  and  the  busy  seamen  addressed  them 
selves  for  orders  to  him  alone.  In  this  manner  an 
hour  was  consumed,  when  Cecilia  and  Katherme 
appearing  in  succession  attired  in  a  suitable  man 
ner  for  their  departure,  and  the  baggage  of  the 
whole  party  having  been  already  entrusted  to  a 
petty  officer  and  a  party  of  his  men,  Griffith  gave 
forth  the  customary  order  to  put  the  whole  in  mo 
tion.  The  shrill,  piercing  whistle  of  the  boatswain 
once  more  rung  among  the  galleries  and  ceilings 
of  the  Abbey,  and  was  followed  by  the  deep, 
hoarse  cry  of — 

"  Away,  there  !  you  shore-draft !  away,  there, 
you  boarders  !  ahead,  heave  ahead,  sea-dogs  '" 

This  extraordinary  summons  was  succeeded  by 
the  roll  of  a  drum,  and  the  strains  of  a  fife,  from 
without,  when  the  whole  party  moved  from  the 
building  in  the  order  that  had  been  previously 
prescribed  by  Captain  Manual,  who  acted  as  the 
marshal  of  the  forces  on  the  occasion. 

The  Pilot  had  conducted  his  surprise  with  so 


456  THE   PILOT. 

much  skill  and  secrecy  as  to  have  secured  every 
individual  about  the  Abbey,  whether  male  or  fe 
male,  soldier  or  civilian  ;  and  as  it  might  be  dan 
gerous  to  leave  any  behind  who  could  convey  in 
telligence  into  the  country,  Griffith  had  ordered 
that  every  human  being,  found  in  the  building, 
should  be  conducted  to  the  cliffs  ;  to  be  held  in  du 
rance,  at  least,  until  the  departure  of  the  last  boat 
to  the  cutter,  which,  he  was  informed,  lay  close  in 
to  the  land,  awaiting  their  re-embarcation.  The 
hurry  of  the  departure  had  caused  many  lights  to 
be  kindled  in  the  Abbey,  and  the  contrast  between 
the  glare  within,  and  the  gloom  without,  attracted 
the  wandering  looks  of  the  captives,  as  they  is 
sued  into  the  paddock.  One  of  those  indefinable, 
and  unaccountable  feelings,  which  so  often  cross 
the  human  mind,  induced  Cecilia  to  pause  at  the 
great  gate  of  the  grounds,  and  look  back  at  the 
Abbey,  with  a  presentiment,  that  she  was  to  be 
hold  it  for  the  last  time.  The  dark  and  ragged 
outline  of  the  edifice  was  clearly  delineated  against 
the  northern  sky,  while  the  open  windows,  and 
neglected  doors,  permitted  a  view  of  the  solitude 
within.  Twenty  tapers  were  shedding  their  use 
less  light  in  the  empty  apartments,  as  if  in  mock 
ery  of  the  deserted  walls,  and  Cecilia  turned, 
shuddering,  from  the  sight,  to  press  nigher  to  the 
person  of  her  indignant  uncle,  with  a  secret  im 
pression  that  her  presence  would  soon  be  more  ne 
cessary  than  ever  to  his  happiness. 

The  low  hum  of  voices  in  front,  with  the  occa 
sional  strains  of  the  fife,  and  the  stern  mandates  of 
the  sea-officers,  soon  recalled  her,  however,  from 
these,  visionary  thoughts  to  the  surrounding  reali 
ties,  while  the  whole  party  pursued  their  way  with 
diligence  to  the  margin  of  the  ocean. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


A  chieftain  to  the  Highlands  bound, 

Cries  '  Boatman,  do  not  tarry  ! 
And  I'll  give  thee  a  silver  pound, 

To  row  us  o'er  the  ferry.' 

Lord  Ullirts  Dang  Mo 


THE  sky  had  been  without  a  cloud  during  the 
day,  the  gale  having  been  dry  and  piercing,  and 
thousands  of  stars  were  now  shining  through  a 
chill  atmosphere.  As  the  eye,  therefore,  became 
accustomed  to  the  change  of  light,  it  obtained  a 
more  distinct  view  of  surrounding  objects.  At 
the  head  of  the  line,  that  was  stretched  along  the 
narrow  pathway,  marched  a  platoon  of  the  marines, 
who  maintained  the  regular  and  steady  front  of 
trained  warriors.  They  were  followed,  at  some 
little  distance,  by  a  large  and  confused  body  of  sea 
men,  heavily  armed,  whose  disposition  to  disor 
der  and  rude  merriment,  which  became  more  vio 
lent  from  thefr  treading  on  solid  ground,  was  with 
difficulty  restrained  by  the  presence  and  severe 
rebukes  of  their  own  officers.  In  the  centre  of 
this  confused  mass,  the  wrhole  of  the  common  pri 
soners  were  placed,  but  were  no  otherwise  at 
tended  to  by  their  nautical  guard,  than  as  they  fur 
nished  the  subjects  of  fun  and  numberless  quaint 
jokes.  At  some  distance  in  their  rear,  marched 
Col  Howard  and  Borroue;hcliffe,  arm  in  arm. 
39 


458  THE    PILOT. 

both  maintaining  the  most  rigid  and  dignified  si 
lence,  though  under  the  influence  of  very  bittei 
feelings.  Behind  these  again,  and  pressing  as  nigh 
as  possible  to  her  uncle,  was  Miss  Howard,  lean 
ing  on  the  arm  of  Alice  Dunscombe,  and  surround 
ed  by  the  female  domestics  of  the  establishment, 
of  St.  Ruth.  Katherine  Plowden  moved  lightly 
by  herself,  in  the  shadow  of  this  group,  with  elas 
tic  steps,  but  with  a  maiden  coyness,  that  taught 
her  to  veil  her  satisfaction  with  the  semblance  of 
captivity.  Barnstable  watched  her  movements 
with  delight,  within  six  feet  of  her,  but  submitted 
to  the  air  of  caprice  in  his  mistress,  which  seemed 
to  require  that  he  should  approach  no  nearer 
Griffith,  avoiding  the  direct  line  of  the  party,  walk 
ed  on  its  skirts  in  such  a  situation  that  his  eye 
could  command  its  whole  extent,  in  order,  if  ne 
cessary,  to  direct  the  movements.  Another  body 
of  the  marines  marched  at  the  close  of  the  proces 
sion,  and  Manual,  in  person,  brought  up  the  rear 
The  music  had  ceased  by  command,  and  nothing 
was  now  audible,  but  the  regular  tread  of  the  sol 
diers,  with  the  sighs  of  the  dying  gale,  interrupted 
occasionally  by  the  voice  of  an  officer,  or  the  hum 
of  low  dialogue. 

"  This  has  been  a  Scotch  prize  that  we've  ta 
ken,"  muttered  a  surly  old  seaman  ;  "  a  ship  with 
out  head-money  or  cargo !  There  was  kitchen 
timber  enough  in  the  old  jug  of  a  *place,  to  have 
given  an  outfit  in  crockery  and  knee-buckles  to 
every  lad  in  the  ship  ;  but,  no  !  let  a  man's  mouth 
water  ever  so  much  for  food  and  raiment,  damme, 
if  the  officers  would  give  him  leave  to  steal  even 
so  good  a  thing  as  a  spare  Bible." 

"  You  may  say  all  that,  and  then  make  but  a 
short  yarn  of  the  truth,"  returned  the  messmate, 
who  walked  by  his  side  ;  "  if  there  had  been  such 


THE    PILOT.  459 

a  thing  as  a  ready  made  prayer  handy,  they  would 
have  choused  a  poor  fellow  out  of  the  use  of  it. — 
I  say,  Ben,  I'll  tell  ye  what ;  it's  my  opinion,  that 
if  a  chap  is  to  turn  soldier,  and  carry  a  musket,  he 
should  have  soldiers'  play,  and  leave  to  plunder  a 
little — now  the  devil  a  thing  have  I  laid  my  hands 
on  to-night,  except  this  firelock,  and  my  cutlash — 
unles  you  can  call  this  bit  of  a  table-cloth  some 
thing  of  a  windfall." 

"  Ay  !  you  have  fallen  in  there  with  a  fresh  bolt 
of  duck,  I  see  !"  said  the  other,  in  manifest  admi 
ration  of  the  texture  of  his  companion's  prize — 
"  why,  it  would  spread  as  broad  a  clue  as  our  mi- 
zen-royal,  if  it  was  loosened  !  well,  your  luck 
hasn't  been  every  man's  luck — for  my  part,  I  think 
this  here  hat  was  made  for  some  fellow's  great 
toe  :  I've  rigged  it  on  my  head  both  fore-and-aft, 
and  athwart  ships ;  but  curse  the  inch  can  I  drive 
it  down — I  say,  Sam  !  you'll  give  us  a  shirt  off  that 
table-cloth  ?"' 

a  Ay,  ay,  you  can  have  one  corner  of  it ;  or  for 
that  matter,  ye  can  take  the  full  half,  Nick  ;  but  I 
don't  see  that  we  go  off  to  the  ship  any  richer  than 
we  landed,  unless  you  may  muster  she-cattle 
among  your  prize-money." 

"  No  richer !"  interrupted  a  waggish  young 
sailor,  who  had  been  hitherto  a  silent  listener  to 
the  conversation  between  his  older  and  more  cal 
culating  shipmates  ;  "  I  think  we  are  set  up  for  a 
cruise  in  them  seas  where  the  day  watches  last  six 
months ;  don't  you  see  we  have  caught  a  double 
allowance  of  midnight !" 

While  speaking,  he  laid  his  hands  on  the  bare 
and  woolly  heads  of  Colonel  Howard's  two  black 
slaves,  who  were  moving  near  him,  both  occupied 
in  mournful  forebodings  on  the  results  that  were  tc 
flow  from  this  unexpected  loss  of  their  liberty." 


460  THE    PILOT. 

**  Slue  your  faces  this  way,  gentlemen,"  he  add 
ed  ;  "  there ;  don't  you  think  that  a  sight  to  put 
out  the  binnacle  lamps  ?  there's  darkness  visible 
for  ye  !" 

"  Let  the  niggars  alone,"  grumbled  one  of  the 
more  aged  speakers ;  "  what  are  ye  sky-larking 
with  the  like  of  them  for  ?  the  next  thing  they'll 
sing  out,  and  then  you'll  hear  one  of  the  officers 
in  your  wake.  For  my  part,  Nick,  I  can't  see 
why  it  is  that  we  keep  dodging  along  shore  here, 
with  less  than  ten  fathoms  under  us,  when,  by 
stretching  into  the  broad  Atlantic,  we  might  fall  in 
with  a  Jamaica-man  every  day  or  two,  and  have 
sugar  hogsheads,  and  rum  puncheons  as  plenty 
aboard  us  as  hard  fare  is  now." 

"  It  is  all  owing  to  that  Pilot,"  returned  the 
other ;  "  for  d'ye  see,  if  there  was  no  bottom,  there 
would  be  no  Pilots.  This  is  a  dangerous  cruising 
ground,  where  we  stretch  into  five  fathoms,  and 
then  drop  our  lead  on  a  sand-spit,  or  a  rock  !  Be 
sides,  they  make  night-work  of  it  too  !  If  we  had 
daylight  for  fourteen  hours  instead  of  seven,  a  man 
might  trust  to  feeling  his  way  for  the  other  ten." 

"  Now,  a'n't  ye  a  couple  of  old  horse  marines  !" 
again  interrupted  the  young  sailor ;  "  don't  you 
see  that  Congress  wants  us  to  cut  up  Johnny  Bull's 
coasters,  and  that  old  Blow-Hard  has  found  the 
days  too  short  for  his  business,  and  so  he  has  land 
ed  a  party  to  get  hold  of  night.  Here  we  have 
him  !  and  when  we  get  off  to  the  ship,  we  shall 
put  him  under  hatches,  and  then  you'll  see  the 
face  of  the  sun  again  !  Come,  my  lilies  !  let  these 
two  gentlemen  look  into  your  cabin  windows — 
what  ?  you  won't !  Then  I  must  squeeze  your 
woollen  night-caps  for  ye  !" 

The  negroes,  who  had  been  submitting  to  his 
humours  with  the  abject  humility  of  slavery,  now 


THE    PILOT.  401 

gave  certain  low  intimations  that  they  were  suffer 
ing  pain,  under  the  rough  manipulation  of  their 
tormentor. 

"  What's  that  !"  cried  a  stem  voice,  whose 
boyish  tones  seemed  to  mock  the  air  of  authority 
that  was  assumed  by  the  speaker — "  who's  that,  I 
say,  raising  that  cry  among  ye  ?" 

The  wilful  young  man  slowly  removed  his  two 
hands  from  the  woolly  polls  of  the  slaves,  but  as  he 
suffered  them  to  fall  reluctantly  along  their  sable 
temples,  he  gave  the  ear  of  one  of  the  blacks  a 
tweak  that  caused  him  to  give  vent  to  another  cry, 
that  was  uttered  writh  a  much  greater  confidence 
of  sympathy  than  before. 

"  Do  ye  hear,  there  i"  repeated  Merry — cc  who's 
sky-larking  with  those  negroes  ?" 

"  'Tis  no  one,  sir,"  the  sailor  answered  with  af 
fected  gravity  ;  "  one  of  the  pale  faces  has  hit  his 
shin  against  a  cob-web,  and  it  has  made  his  ear 
ache  !" 

"  Harkye,  you  Mr.  Jack  Joker  !  how  came  you 
in  the  midst  of  the  prisoners  ?  did  not  I  order  you 
to  handle  your  pike,  sir,  and  to  keep  in  the  outer 
line  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,  you  did  ;  and  I  obeyed  orders  as 
long  as  I  could  ;  but  these  niggars  have  made  the 
night  so  dark,  that  I  lost  my  way  !" 

A  low  laugh  passed  through  the  confused  crowd 
of  seamen,  and  even  the  midshipman  might  have 
been  indulging  himself  in  a  similar  manner  at  this 
specimen  of  quaint  humour  from  the  fellow,  who 
was  one  of  those  licensed  men  that  are  to  be  found 
in  every  ship.  At  length — 

"  Well,  sir,"  he  said,  "  you  have  found  out  your 
false  reckoning  now  ;  so  get  you  back  to  the  place 
where  I  bid  you  stay." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,  I'm  going.  By  all  the  blunders 
39  * 


462  THE    PILOT. 

in  the  purser's  book,  Mr.  Merry,  but  that  cobweb 
has  made  one  of  these  niggars  shed  tears  !  Do 
let  me  stay  to  catch  a  little  ink,  sir,  to  write  a 
letter  with  to  my  poor  old  mother — devil  the  line 
has  she  had  from  me  since  we  sailed  from  the 
Chesapeake  !" 

"  If  ye  don't  mind  me  at  once,  Mr.  Jack  Joker, 
I'll  lay  my  cutlass  over  your  head,"  returned  Mer 
ry,  his  voice  now  betraying  a  much  greater  sym 
pathy  in  the  sufferings  of  that  abject  race,  who  are 
still  in  some  measure,  but  who  formerly  were  much 
more,  the  butts  of  the  unthinking  and  licentious 
among  our  low  countrymen  ;  "  then  ye  can  write 
your  letter  in  red  ink  if  ye  will !" 

"  I  wouldn't  do  it  for  the  world,"  said  Joker, 
sneaking  away,  towards  his  proper  station — "  the 
old  lady  wouldn't  forget  the  hand,  and  swear  it  was 
a  forgery — I  wonder,  though,  if  the  breakers  on 
the  coast  of  Guinea  be  black !  as  I've  heard  old 
seamen  say  who  have  cruised  in  them  latitudes." 

His  idle  levity  was  suddenly  interrupted  by  a 
voice  that  spoke  above  the  low  hum  of  the  march, 
with  an  air  of  authority,  and  a  severity  of  tone,  that 
could  always  quell,  by  a  single  word,  the  most  vi 
olent  ebullition  of  merriment  in  the  crew. 

The  low  buzzing  sounds  of  "  Ay,  there  goes  Mr. 
Griffith  !"  and  of  "  Jack  has  woke  up  the  first 
lieutenant,  he  had  better  now  go  to  sleep  himself;" 
were  heard  passing  among  the  men.  But  these 
suppressed  communications  soon  ceased,  and  even 
Jack  Joker  himself  pursued  his  way  with  dili 
gence,  on  the  skirts  of  the  party,  as  mutely  as  if 
the  power  of  speech  did  not  belong  to  his  organi 
zation 

The  reader  has  too  often  accompanied  us  ovei 
the  ground  between  the  Abbey  and  the  ocean,  to 
require  any  description  of  the  route  pursued  by 


THE    PILOT.  463 

the  seamen  during  the  preceding  characteristic 
dialogue  ;  and  we  shall  at  once  pass  to  the  inci 
dents  which  occurred  on  the  arrival  of  the  party 
at  the  cliffs.  As  the  man  who  had  so  unexpect 
edly  assumed  a  momentary  authority  within  St. 
Ruth  had  unaccountably  disappeared  from  among 
them,  Griffith  continued  to  exercise  the  right  of 
command,  without  referring  to  any  other  for  con 
sultation.  He  never  addressed  himself  to  Barn- 
stable,  and  it  was  apparent  that  both  the  haughty 
young  men  felt  that  the  tie  which  had  hitherto 
united  them  in  such  close  intimacy,  was,  for  the 
present  at  least,  entirely  severed.  Indeed,  Grif 
fith  was  only  restrained  by  the  presence  of  Ce 
cilia  and  Katherine,  from  arresting  his  refractory 
inferior  on  the  spot ;  and  Barnstable,  who  felt  all 
the  consciousness  of  error,  without  its  proper  hu 
mility,  with  difficulty  so  far  repressed  his  feelings, 
as  to  forbear  exhibiting  in  the  presence  of  his  mis 
tress,  such  a  manifestation  of  his  spirit  as  his 
wounded  vanity  induced  him  to  imagine  was  ne 
cessary  to  his  honour.  The  two,  however,  acted 
in  harmony  on  one  subject,  though  it  was  without 
concert  or  communication.  The  first  object  with 
both  the  young  men  was  to  secure  the  embarka 
tion  of  the  fair  cousins  ;  and  Barnstable  proceeded 
instantly  to  the  boats,  in  order  to  hasten  the  pre 
parations  that  were  necessary  before  they  could 
receive  these  unexpected  captives:  the  descent 
of  the  Pilot  having  been  made  in  such  force  as  to 
require  the  use  of  all  the  frigate's  boats,  which 
were  left  riding  in  the  outer  edge  of  the  surf, 
awaiting  the  return  of  the  expedition.  A  loud  call 
from  Barnstable  gave  notice  to  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  beach  was  crowd 
ed  with  the  busy  and  active  crews  of  the  c  cutters,' 
*  launches,'  i  barges,'  c  jolly-boats,'  '  pinnaces,'  01 


464  THE    PILOT. 

by  whatever  names  the  custom  of  the  times  at 
tached  to  the  different  attendants  of  vessels  of  war 
Had  the  fears  of  the  ladies  themselves  been  con 
sulted,  the  frigate's  launch  would  have  been  se 
lected  for  their  use,  on  account  of  its  size ;  but 
Barnstable,  who  would  have  thought  such  a  choice 
on  his  part  humiliating  to  his  guests,  ordered  the 
long,  low  barge  of  Captain  Munson  to  be  drawn 
upon  the  sand,  it  being  peculiarly  the  boat  of  ho 
nour.  The  hands  of  fifty  men  were  applied  to  the 
task,  and  it  was  soon  announced  to  Colonel  How 
ard  and  his  wards,  that  the  little  vessel  was  ready 
for  their  reception.  Manual  had  halted  on  the 
summit  of  the  cliffs  with  the  whole  body  of  the 
marines,  where  he  was  busily  employed  in  posting 
pickets  and  sentinels,  and  giving  the  necessary  in 
structions  to  his  men  to  cover  the  embarkation  of 
the  seamen,  in  a  style  that  he  conceived  to  be  alto 
gether  military.  The  mass  of  the  common  prison 
ers,  including  the  inferior  domestics  of  the  Abbey, 
and  the  men  of  Borroughcliffe,  were  also  held  in 
the  same  place,  under  a  suitable  guard  ;  but  Colo 
nel  Howard  and  his  companion,  attended  by  the 
ladies  and  their  own  maids,  had  descended  the 
rugged  path  to  the  beach,  and  were  standing  pas 
sively  on  the  sands,  when  the  intelligence  that  the 
boat  waited  for  them  was  announced. 

"  Where  is  he  ?"  asked  Alice  Dunscombe,  turn 
ing  her  head,  as  if  anxiously  searching  for  some 
other  than  those  around  her. 

"  Where  is  who  ?"  inquired  Barnstable  ;  "  we 
are  all  here,  and  the  boat  waits." 

"  And  will  he  tear  me — even  me,  from  the  home 
of  my  infancy  !  the  land  of  my  birth  and  my  af 
fections  !" 

"  I  know  not  of  whom  you  speak,  madam,  but 


THE    PILOT.  465 

if  it  be  oi  Mr  Griffith,  he  stands  there,  just  with 
out  that  cluster  of  seamen." 

Griffith, hearing  himself  thus  named,  approached 
.he  ladies,  and,  for  the  first  time  since  leaving  the 
Abbey,  addressed  them  : — "  I  hope  I  am  already 
understood,"  he  said,  "  and  that  it  is  unnecessary 
for  me  to  say,  that  no  female  here  is  a  prisoner  ; 
though  should  any  choose  to  trust  themselves  on 
board  our  ship,  I  pledge  to  them  the  honour  of  an 
officer,  that  they  shall  find  themselves  protected, 
and  safe." 

"  Then  will  I  not  go,"  said  Alice. 

"  It  is  not  expected  of  you,"  said  Cecilia  ; 
%c  you  have  no  ties  to  bind  you  to  any  here." — 
(The  eyes  of  Alice  were  still  wandering  over  the 
listeners.)  "Go,  then,  Miss  Alice,  and  be  the 
mistress  of  St.  Ruth,  until  my  return ;  or,"  she 
added,  timidly,  "  until  Colonel  Howard  may  de 
clare  his  pleasure." 

"  I  obey  you,  dear  child ;  but  the  agent  of  Co 
lonel  Howard,  at  B ,  wrill  undoubtedly  be  au 
thorized  to  take  charge  of  his  effects." 

While  no  one  but  his  niece  alluded  to  his  will, 
the  master  of  the  Abbey  had  found,  in  his  resent 
ment,  a  sufficient  apology  for  his  rigid  demeanour ; 
but  he  was  far  too  well  bred  to  bear,  in  silence, 
such  a  modest  appeal  to  his  wishes,  from  so  fair, 
and  so  loyal  a  subject  as  Alice  Dunscombe. 

"  To  relieve  you,  madam,  and  for  no  other  rea 
son,  will  I  speak  on  this  subject,"  he  said  ;  "  other 
wise,  I  should  leave  the  doors  and  windows  of  St. 
Ruth  open,  as  a  melancholy  monument  of  rebel 
lion,  and  seek  my  future  compensation  from  the 
Crown,  when  the  confiscated  estates  of  the  lead 
ers  of  this  accursed  innovation  on  the  rights  of 
princes  shall  come  to  the  hammer  But  you., 


466  THE    PILCT. 

Miss  Alice,  are  entitled  to  every  consideration 
that  a  lady  can  expect  from  a  gentleman.  Be 
pleased,  therefore,  to  write  to  my  agent,  and  re 
quest  him  to  seal  up  my  papers,  and  transmit  them 
to  the  office  of  his  Majesty's  Secretary  of  State. 
They  breathe  no  treason,  madam,  and  are  entitled 
to  official  protection.  The  house,  and  most  of  the 
furniture,  as  you  know,  are  the  property  of  my 
landlord,  who,  in  due  time,  will  doubtless  take 
charge  of  his  own  interest.  I  kiss  your  hand,  Miss 
Alice,  and  I  hope  we  shall  yet  meet  at  St.  James's 
— depend  on  it,  madam,  that  the  Royal  Charlotte 
shall  yet  honour  your  merits  ;  I  know  she  cannot 
but  estimate  your  loyalty." 

"  Here  I  was  born,  in  humble  obscurity — here 
1  have  lived,  and  here  I  hope  to  die  in  quiet,"  re 
turned  the  meek  Alice  ;  "  if  I  have  known  any 
pleasure,  in  late  years,  beyond  that  which  every 
Christian  can  find  in  our  daily  duties,  it  has  been, 
my  sweet  friends,  in  your  accidental  society.— 
Such  companions,  in  this  remote  corner  of  the 
kingdom,  has  been  a  boon  too  precious  to  be  en 
joyed  without  alloy,  it  seems,  and  I  have  now  to 
exchange  the  past  pleasure  for  present  pain.  Adieu  ' 
my  young  friends  ;  let  your  trust  be  in  Him,  to 
whose  eyes  both  prince  and  peasant,  the  European 
and  the  American,  are  alike,  and  we  shall  meet 
again,  though  it  be  neither  in  the  island  of  Britain, 
nor  on  your  own  wide  continent." 

"  That,"  said  Colonel  Howard,  advancing  and 
taking  her  hand  with  kindness,  "  that  is  the  only 
disloyal  sentiment  I  have  ever  heard  fall  from  the 
lips  of  Miss  Alice  Dunscombe  !  Is  it  to  be  sup 
posed  that  Heaven  has  established  orders  among 
men,  and  that  it  does  not  respect  the  works  of  its 
own  formation  !  But  adieu  ;  no  doubt  if  time  was 


THE    PILOT.  467 

allowed  us  for  suitable  explanations,  we  should 
find  but  little  or  no  difference  of  opinion  on  this 
subject." 

Alice  did  not  appear  to  consider  the  mattei  as 
worthy  of  further  discussion  at  such  a  moment,  for 
she  gently  returned  the  colonel's  leave-taking,  and 
then  gave  her  undivided  attention  to  her  female 
friends.  Cecilia  wept  bitterly  on  the  shoulder  of 
her  respected  companion,  giving  vent  to  her  re 
gret  at  parting,  and  her  excited  feelings,  at  the 
same  moment ;  and  Katherine  pressed  to  the  side 
of  Alice,  with  the  kindliness  prompted  by  her 
warm,  but  truant  heart.  Their  embraces  were 
given  and  received  in  silence,  and  each  of  the 
young  ladies  moved  towards  the  boat,  as  she  with 
drew  herself  from  the  arms  of  Miss  Dunscombe, 
Col.  Howard  would  not  precede  his  wards,  neither 
would  he  assist  them  into  the  barge.  That  atten 
tion  they  received  from  Barnstable,  who,  after  see 
ing  the  ladies  and  their  attendants  seated,  turned 
to  the  gentlemen,  and  observed — 

"  The  boat  waits." 

"  Well,  Miss  Alice,"  said  Borroughcliffe,  in  bit 
ter  irony,  "  you  are  intrusted,  by  our  excellent 
host,  with  a  message  to  his  agent ;  will  you  do  a  si 
milar  service  to  me,  and  write  a  report  to  the  com 
mander  of  the  district,  and  just  tell  him  what  a  dolt 
— ay,  use  the  plainest  terms,  and  say  what  an  ass, 
one  Captain  Borroughcliffe  has  proved  himself  in 
this  affair.  You  may  throw  in,  by  way  of  episode, 
thai  he  has  been  playing  bo-peep  with  a  rebellious 
young  lady  from  the  Colonies,  and,  like  a  great 
boy,  has  had  his  head  broken  for  his  pains  !  Come, 
my  worthy  host,  or  rather  fellow-prisoner,  I  fol 
low  you,  as  in  duty  bound." 

"  Stay,"  cried  Griffith ;  "  Capt.  Borroughcliffe 
does  not  embark  in  that  boat." 


468  THE    PILOT. 

"  Ha !  sii ;  am  I  to  be  herded  with  the  com 
mon  men  ?     Forget  you  that  I  have  the  honour  to 
bear  the  commission  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and 
that—" 

"  I  forget  nothing  that  a  gentleman  is  bound  to 
remember,  Captain  Borroughcliire ;  among  other 
things,  I  recollect  the  liberality  of  your  treatment 
to  myself,  when  a  prisoner.  The  instant  the  safe 
ty  of  my  command  will  justify  such  a  step,  not 
only  you,  but  your  men,  shall  be  set  at  liberty." 

Borroughcliffe  started  in  surprise  ;  but  his  feel 
ings  were  too  much  soured  by  the  destruction  of 
those  visions  of  glory,  in  which  he  had  been  luxu 
riously  indulging  for  the  last  day  or  two,  to  ad 
mit  of  his  answering  as  became  a  man.  He  swal 
lowed  his  emotions,  therefore,  by  a  violent  effort, 
and  walked  along  the  beach,  affecting  to  whistle  a 
low,  but  lively  air. 

"  Well,  then,"  cried  Barnstable — "  all  our  cap 
tives  are  seated.  The  boat  waits  only  for  its 
officers !" 

In  his  turn,  Griffith  walked  away,  in  haughty  si 
lence,  as  if  disdaining  to  hold  communion  with  his 
former  friend.  Barnstable  paused  a  moment,  from 
a  deference  that  long  habit  had  created  for  his  su 
perior  officer,  and  which  was  not  to  be  shaken  off 
by  every  burst  of  angry  passion  ;  but  perceiving 
that  the  other  had  no  intention  to  return,  he  or 
dered  the  seamen  to  raise  the  boat  from  the  sand 
and  bear  it  bodily  into  the  water.  The  command 
was  instantly  obeyed ;  and  by  the  time  the  young 
lieutenant  was  in  his  seat,  the  barge  was  floating 
in  the  still  heavy,  though  no  longer  dangerous  surf, 
and  the  crew  sprang  into  their  places. 

"  Bear  her  off,  boys  !"  he  cried  ;  "  never  mind 
a  wet  jacket.  I've  seen  many  a  worthy  fellow  tum 
bling  on  this  beach  in  a  worse  time  than  this? 


THE   PILOT.  469 

Now  you  have  her  head  to  sea;  give  way,  my 
souls,  give  way." 

The  seamen  rose  simultaneously  at  their  oars, 
and  by  an  united  effort  obtained  the  command  of 
their  boat;  which,  after  making  a  few  sudden 
ascents  and  as  many  heavy  pitches  in  the  break 
ers,  gained  the  smoother  seas  of  the  swelling 
ocean,  and  stemmed  the  waters  in  a  direction  for 
the  place  where  the  Alacrity  was  supposed  to  be 
in  waiting. 

43 


CHAPTER  XXX 


His  only  plot  was  tnis — that  much  provoked, 
He  raised  his  vengeful  arm  against  his  country. 

Thomson. 


ALIC&  DUNSCOMBE  remained  on  the  sands, 
watching  the  dark  spot  that  was  soon  hid  amid  the 
waves  in  the  obscurity  of  night,  and  listening, 
with  melancholy  interest,  to  the  regulated  sounds 
of  the  oars,  which  were  audible  long  after  the  boat 
had  been  blended  with  the  gloomy  outline  of  the 
eastern  horizon.  When  all  traces  of  her  departed 
friends  were  to  be  found  only  in  her  own  recollec 
tions,  she  slowly  turned  from  the  sea,  and  hasten 
ing  to  quit  the  bustling  throng  that  were  preparing 
for  the  embarcation  of  the  rest  of  the  party,  she 
ascended  the  path  that  conducted  her  once  more 
to  the  summit  of  those  cliffs,  along  which  she  had 
so  often  roved,  gazing  at  the  boundless  element 
that  washed  their  base  with  sensations  that  might 
have  been  peculiar  to  her  own  situation. 

The  soldiers  of%Borroughcliffe,  who  were  sta 
tioned  at  the  head  of  the  pass,  respectfully  made 
way  ;  nor  did  any  of  the  sentinels  of  Manual  heed 
her  retiring  figure,  until  she  approached  the  rear 
guard  of  the  marines,  who  were  commanded  by 
their  vigilant  captain  in  person. 


THE    PILOT.  471 

"  Who  goes  there !"  cried  Manual,  advancing 
without  the  dusky  group  of  soldiers,  as  she  ap 
proached  them. 

"  One  who  possesses  neither  the  power  nor  the 
inclination  to  do  ye  harm,"  answered  the  solitary 
female  ;  "  'tis  Alice  Dunscombe,  returning,  by  per 
mission  of  your  leader,  to  the  place  of  her  birth." 

"  Ay,"  muttered  Manual,  "  this  is  one  of  Grif 
fith's  unmilitary  exhibitions  of  his  politeness  !  does 
the  man  think  that  there  was  ever  a  woman  who 
had  no  tongue  !  Have  you  the  countersign,  ma 
dam,  that  I  may  know  you  bear  a  sufficient  war 
rant  to  pass  ?" 

"  I  have  no  other  warrant  besides  my  sex  and 
weakness  unless  Mr.  Griffith's  knowledge  that  I 
have  left  him  can  be  so  considered." 

"  The  two  former  are  enough,"  said  a  voice, 
that  proceeded  from  a  figure  which  had  hitherto 
stood  unseen,  shaded  by  the  trunk  of  an  oak,  that 
spread  its  wide,  but  naked  arms  above  the  spot 
where  the  guard  was  paraded. 

"  Who  have  we  here  !"  Manual  again  cried  ; 
"  come  in  ;  yield  or  you  will  be  fired  at." 

"  Wliat,  will  the  gallant  Captain  Manual  fire  on 
his  own  rescuer  !"  said  the  Pilot,  with  cool  disdain, 
as  he  advanced  from  the  shadow  of  the  tree. 
cl  He  had  better  reserve  his  bullets  for  his  ene 
mies,  than  waste  them  on  his  friends." 

"  You  have  done  a  dangerous  deed,  sir,  in  ap 
proaching,  clandestinely,  a  guard  of  marines  !  I 
wonder  that  a  man  who  has  already  discovered, 
to-night,  that  he  has  some  knowledge  of  tactics, 
by  so  ably  conducting  a  surprise,  should  betray  so 
much  ignorance  in  the  forms  of  approaching  a 
picket !" 

"  'Tis  now  of  no  moment,"  returned  the  Pi 
lot  ;  "  my  knowledge  and  my  ignorance  are  alike 


472  THE    PILOT. 

immaterial,  as  the  command  of  the  party  is  surren 
dered  to  other,  and  perhaps  more  proper  hands. 
But  T  would  talk  to  this  lady  alone,  sir ;  she  is  an 
acquaintance  of  my  youth,  and  I  will  see  her  on 
her  way  to  the  Abbey." 

"  The  step  would  be  unmilitary,  Mr.  Pilot,  and 
you  will  excuse  me  if  I  do  not  consent  to  any  of 
our  expedition  straggling  without  the  sentries.  If 
you  choose  to  remain  here  to  hold  your  discourse, 
I  will  march  the  picket  out  of  hearing ;  though  1 
must  acknowledge  I  see  no  ground  so  favourable 
as  this  we  are  on,  to  keep  you  within  the  range  of 
our  eyes.  You  perceive  that  I  have  a  ravine  to 
retreat  into,  in  case  of  surprise,  with  this  line  of 
wall  on  my  left  flank,  and  the  trunk  of  that  tree 
to  cover  my  right.  A  very  pretty  stand  might  be 
made  here,  on  emergency  ;  for  even  the  oldest 
troops  fight  the  best  when  their  flanks  are  properly 
covered,  and  a  way  to  make  a  regular  retreat  is 
open  in  their  rear." 

"  Say  no  more,  sir ;  I  would  not  break  up  such 
a  position  on  any  account,"  returned  the  Pilot; 
"  the  lady  will  consent  to  retrace  her  path  for  a 
short  distance." 

Alice  followed  his  steps,  in  compliance  with  this 
request,  until  he  had  led  her  to  a  place,  at  some 
little  distance  from  the  marines,  where  a  tree  had 
been  prostrated  by  the  late  gale.  She  seated  her 
self  quietly  on  its  trunk,  and  appeared  to  await 
with  patience  his  own  time  for  the  explanation  of 
his  motives,  in  seeking  the  interview.  The  Pilot 
paced  for  several  minutes,  back  and  forth,  in  front 
of  the  place  where  she  was  seated,  in  profound  si 
lence,  as  if  communing  with  himself,  when  sud 
denly  throwing  off  his  air  of  absence,  he  came  to 
her  side,  and  assumed  a  position  similar  to  the  one 
which  she  herself  had  taken. 


THE    PILOT.  473 

"  The  hour  is  at  hand,  Alice,  when  we  must 
part,"  he  at  length  commenced  ;  "  it  rests  with 
yourself  whether  it  shall  be  for  ever." 

"  Let  it  then  be  for  ever,  John,"  she  returned, 
with  a  slight  tremour  in  her  voice. 

"  That  word  would  have  been  less  appalling, 
had  this  accidental  meeting  never  occurred.  And 
yet  your  choice  may  have  been  determined  by 
prudence — for  what  is  there  in  my  fate  that  can 
tempt  a  woman  to  wish  that  she  might  share  it !" 

"  If  ye  mean  your  lot  is  that  of  one  who  can 
find  but  few,  or  even  none,  to  partake  of  his  joys, 
or  to  share  in  his  sorrows,  whose  life  is  a  continual 
scene  of  dangers  and  calamities,  of  disappointments 
and  mishaps,  then  do  ye  know  but  little  of  the 
heart  of  woman,  if  ye  doubt  of  either  her  ability  01 
her  willingness,  to  meet  them  with  the  man  of  her 
choice." 

"  Say  you  thus,  Alice  !  then  have  I  misunder 
stood  your  meaning,  or  misinterpreted  your  acts. 
My  lot  is  not  altogether  that  of  a  neglected  man, 
unless  the  favour  of  princes,  and  the  smiles  of 
queens,  can  be  thus  termed  !  My  life  is,  however, 
one  of  many  and  fearful  dangers  ;  and  yet  it  is  not 
filled  altogether  with  calamities  and  mishaps  ;  is 
it,  Alice  ?"  He  paused  a  moment,  but  in  vain,  for 
her  answer.  "  Nay,  then,  I  have  been  deceived 
in  the  estimation  that  the  world  has  affixed  to  my 
combats  and  enterprises  !  I  am  not,  Alice,  the 
man  I  would  be,  or  even  the  man  I  had  deemed 
myself." 

"  You  have  gained  a  name,  John,  among  the 
warriors  of  the  age,"  she  answered,  in  a  subdued 
voice  :  "  and  it  is  a  name  that  may  be  said  to  be 
written  in  blood  !" 

"  The  blood  of  my  enemies,  Alice  !" 

"  The  blood  of  the  subjects  of  your  natural 
43  * 


474  THE    PILOT 

prince  !  The  blood  of  those  who  breathe  the  air 
you  first  breathed,  and  who  were  taught  the  same 
holy  lessons  of  instruction  that  you  were  first 
taught ;  but  which,  I  fear,  you  have  too  soon  for 
gotten  !" 

u  The  blood  of  the  slaves  of  despotism  !"  he 
sternly  interrupted  her ;  "  the  blood  of  the  ene 
mies  of  freedom  !  you  have  dwelt  so  long  in  this 
dull  retirement,  and  you  have  cherished  so  blindly 
the  prejudices  of  your  youth,  that  the  promise  of 
those  noble  sentiments  I  once  thought  I  could  see 
budding  in  Alice  Dunscombe,  has  not  been  ful 
filled." 

"  I  have  lived  and  thought  only  as  a  woman,  as 
become  my  sex  and  station,"  Alice  meekly  replied  ; 
"  and  when  it  shall  be  necessary  for  me  to  live  and 
think  otherwise,  I  should  wish  to  die." 

"  Ay,  there  lie  the  first  seeds  of  slavery  !  A 
dependent  woman  is  sure  to  make  the  mother  of 
craven  and  abject  wretches,  who  dishonour  the 
name  of  man  !" 

"  I  shall  never  be  the  mother  of  children,  good 
or  bad" — said  Alice,  with  that  resignation  in  her 
tones  that  showed  she  had  abandoned  the  natural 
hopes  of  her  sex. — "  Singly  and  unsupported  have 
I  lived ;  alone  and  unlamented  must  I  be  carried 
to  my  grave." 

The  exquisite  pathos  of  her  voice,  as  she  utter 
ed  this  placid  speech,  blended  as  it  was  with  the 
sweet  and  calm  dignity  of  virgin  pride,  touched 
the  heart  of  her  listener,  and  he  continued  silent 
many  moments,  as  if  in  reverence  of  her  deter 
mination.  Her  sentiments  awakened  in  his  own 
breast  those  feelings  of  generosity  and  disinterest 
edness,  which  had  nearly  been  smothered  in  rest 
less  ambition  and  the  pride  of  success.  He  re 
sumed  the  discourse,  therefore,  more  mildly,  and 


THE    PILOT.  475 

with  a  much  greater  exhibition  of  deep  feeling,  and 
less  of  passion,  in  his  manner. 

u  I  know  not,  Alice,  that  I  ought,  situated  as  I 
am,  and  contented,  if  not  happy,  as  you  are,  even 
to  attempt  to  revive  in  your  bosom  those  senti 
ments  which  I  was  once  led  to  think  existed  there. 
It  cannot,  after  all,  be  a  desirable  fate,  to  share  the 
lot  of  a  rover  like  myself ;  one  who  may  be  term 
ed  a  Quixote  in  the  behalf  of  liberal  principles,  and 
who  may  be  hourly  called  to  seal  the  truth  of  those 
principles  with  his  life." 

"  There  never  existed  any  sentiment  in  my 
breast,  in  which  you  are  concerned,  that  does  not 
exist  there  still,  and  unchanged,"  returned  Alice, 
with  her  single-hearted  sincerity. 

"  Do  I  hear  you  aright !  or  have  I  misconceived 
your  resolution  to  abide  in  England  !  or  have  I  not 
rather  mistaken  your  early  feelings  ?" 

"  You  have  fallen  into  no  error  now  nor  then. 
The  weakness  may  still  exist,  John,  but  the  strength 
to  struggle  with  it,  has,  by  the  goodness  of  God, 
grown  with  my  years.  It  is  not,  however,  of  my 
self,  but  of  you,  that  I  would  speak.  I  have  lived 
like  one  of  our  simple  daisies,  which  in  the  bud 
ding  may  have  caught  your  eye  ;  and  I  shall  also 
wilt  like  the  humble  flower,  when  the  winter  of 
my  time  arrives,  without  being  missed  from  the 
fields  that  have  known  me  for  a  season.  But  your 
fall,  John,  will  be  like  that  of  the  oak  that  now 
supports  us,  and  men  shall  pronounce  on  the  beau 
ty  and  grandeur  of  the  noble  stem  while  standing, 
as  well  as  of  its  usefulness  when  felled." 

"  Let  them  pronounce  as  they  will !"  returned 
the  proud  stranger.  "  The  truth  must  be  finally 
known,  and  when  that  hour  shall  come,  they  will 
say,  he  was  a  faithful  and  gallant  warrior  in  his 
day ;  and  a  worthy  lesson  for  all  who  are  born  in 


476  THE    PILOT. 

slavery,  but  would  live  in  freedom,  shall  be  found 
in  his  example." 

"  Such  may  be  the  language  of  that  distant 
people,  whom  ye  have  adopted  in  the  place  of  those 
that  once  formed  home  and  kin  to  ye,"  said  Alice, 
glancing  her  eye  timidly  at  his  countenance,  as  if 
to  discern  how  far  she  might  venture,  without 
awakening  his  resentment ;  "  but  what  will  the 
men  of  the  land  of  your  birth  transmit  to  their 
children,  who  will  be  the  children  of  those  that  are 
of  your  own  blood  ?" 

"  They  will  say,  Alice,  whatever  their  crooked 
policy  may  suggest,  or  their  disappointed  vanity 
can  urge.  But  the  picture  must  be  drawn  by  the 
friends  of  the  hero  as  well  as  by  his  enemies  ! 
Think  you  that  there  are  not  pens  as  well  as 
swords  in  America  ?" 

"  I  have  heard  that  America  called  a  land,  John, 
where  God  has  lavished  his  favours  with  an  un 
sparing  hand  ;  where  he  has  bestowed  many 
climes  with  their  several  fruits,  and  where  his 
power  is  exhibited  no  less  than  his  mercy.  It  is 
said  her  rivers  are  without  any  known  end,  and 
that  lakes  are  found  in  her  bosom,  which  would 
put  our  German  Ocean  to  shame  !  The  plains, 
teeming  with  verdure,  are  spread  over  wide  de-. 
grees,  and  yet  those  sweet  valleys,  which  a  single 
heart  can  hold,  are  not  wanting.  In  short,  John, 
I  hear  it  is  a  broad  land,  that  can  furnish  food  for 
each  passion,  and  contain  objects  for  every  affec 
tion." 

"  Ay,  you  have  found  those,  Alice,  in  your  soli 
tude,  who  have  been  willing  to  do  her  justice  !  It 
is  a  country  that  can  form  a  world  of  itself;  and 
why  should  they  who  inherit  it  look  to  other  na 
tions  for  their  laws  ?" 

"  I  pretend  not  to  reason  on  the  right  of  the 


THE    PILOT.  477 

children  of  that  soil,  to  do  whatever  they  may 
deem  most  meet  for  their  own  welfare,"  returned 
Alice — "  but  can  men  be  born  in  such  a  land,  and 
not  know  the  feelings  which  bind  a  human  being 
to  the  place  of  his  birth  ?" 

"  Can  you  doubt  that  they  should  be  patriotic  ?" 
exclaimed  the  Pilot,  in  surprise.  "  Do  not  their 
efforts  in  this  sacred  cause — their  patient  suffer 
ings — their  long  privations,  speak  loudly  in  their 
behalf?" 

"  And  will  they,  who  know  so  well  how  to  love 
home,  sing  the  praises  of  him,  who  has  turned  his 
ruthless  hand  against  the  land  of  his  fathers  ?" 

"  For  ever  harping  on  that  word,  home  !"  said 
the  Pilot,  who  now  detected  the  timid  approach 
es  of  Alice  to  her  hidden  meaning.  "  Is  man  a 
stick  or  a  stone,  that  he  must  be  cast  into  the  fire, 
or  buried  in  a  wall,  wherever  his  fate  may  have 
doomed  him  to  appear  on  the  earth  ?  The  sound 
of  home  is  said  to  feed  the  vanity  of  an  English 
man,  let  him  go  where  he  will ;  but  it  would  seem 
to  have  a  still  more  powerful  charm  with  English 
women  !" 

"  It  is  the  dearest  of  all  terms  to  every  woman, 
John,  for  it  embraces  the  dearest  of  all  ties  !  If 
your  dames  of  America  are  ignorant  of  its  charm, 
all  the  favours  which  God  has  lavished  on  their 
land  will  avail  their  happiness  but  little." 

"  Alice,"  said  the  Pilot,  rising  in  his  agitation, 
"  I  see  but  too  well  the  object  of  your  allusions. 
But  on  this  subject  we  can  never  agree  ;  for  not 
even  your  power  can  draw  me  from  the  path  of 
glory  in  which  I  am  now  treading.  Our  time  is 
growing  brief;  let  us  then  talk  of  other  things. — 
This  may  be  the  last  time  that  I  shall  ever  put  foot 
on  the  island  of  Britain." 

Alice  paused  to  struggle  with  the  feelings  exci- 


478  THE    PILOT. 

ted  by  this  remark,  before  she  pursued  the  dis 
course.  But  soon  shaking  off  the  weakness,  she 
added,  with  a  rigid  adherence  to  that  course  which 
she  believed  to  be  her  duty — 

"  And  now,  John,  that  you  have  landed,  is  the 
breaking  up  of  a  peaceful  family,  and  the  violence 
ye  have  shown  towards  an  aged  man,  a  fit  exploit 
for  one  whose  object  is  the  glory  of  which  ye  have 
spoken  ?" 

"  Think  you  that  I  have  landed,  and  placed  my 
life  in  the  hands  of  my  enemies,  for  so  unworthy 
an  object !  No,  Alice,  my  motive  for  this  under 
taking  has  been  disappointed,  and  therefore  will 
ever  remain  a  secret  from  the  world.  But  duty 
to  my  cause  has  prompted  the  step  which  you  so 
unthinkingly  condemn.  This  Colonel  Howard 
has  some  consideration  with  those  in  power,  and 
will  answer  to  exchange  for  a  better  man.  As  for 
his  wards,  you  forget  their  home,  their  magical 
home,  is  in  America  :  unless,  indeed,  they  find 
them  nearer  at  hand,  under  the  proud  flag  of  a 
frigate,  that  is  now  waiting  for  them  in  the  offing." 

"  You  talk  of  a  frigate  !"  said  Alice,  with  sud 
den  interest  in  the  subject — "  Is  she  your  only 
means  of  escaping  from  your  enemies  ?" 

"  Alice  Dunscombe  has  taken  but  little  heed  of 
passing  events,  to  ask  such  a  question  of  me  !"  re 
turned  the  haughty  Pilot.  "  The  question  would 
have  sounded  more  discreetly,  had  it  been,  c  is  she 
the  only  vessel  with  you  that  your  enemies  will 
have  to  escape  from  ?' ' 

"  Nay,  I  cannot  measure  my  language  at  such  a 
moment,"  continued  Alice,  with  a  still  stronger 
exhibition  of  anxiety.  "  It  was  my  fortune  to 
overhear  a  part  of  a  plan  that  was  intended  to 
destroy,  by  sudden  means,  those  vessels  of  Ame 
rica  that  were  in  our  seas." 


THE    PILOT.  479 

u  That  might  be  a  plan  more  suddenly  adopted 
than  easily  executed,  my  good  Alice.  And  who 
were  those  redoubtable  schemers  ?" 

"  I  know  not  but  my  duty  to  the  king  should 
cause  me  to  suppress  this  information,"  said  Alice, 
hesitating. 

"  Well,  be  it  so,"  returned  the  Pilot  coolly  • 
u  it  may  prove  the  means  of  saving  the  persons  of 
some  of  the  royal  officers  from  death  or  captivity. 
I  have  already  said,  this  may  be  the  last  of  my  vi 
sits  to  this  island,  and  consequently,  Alice,  the  last 
of  our  interviews — " 

"  And  yet,"  said  Alice,  still  pursuing  the  train 
of  her  own  thoughts,  "  there    can   be   but  little 
harm  in  sparing  human  blood  ;  and  least  of  all  in 
serving  those  whom  we  have  long  known  and  re 
garded!" 

"  Ay,  that  is  a  simple  doctrine,  and  one  that  is 
easily  maintained,"  he  added,  with  much  apparent 
indifference  ;  "  and  yet  king  George  might  well 
spare  some  of  his  servants — the  list  of  his  abject 
minions  is  so  long  !" 

"  There  was  a  man  named  Dillon,  who  lately 
dwelt  in  the  Abbey,  but  who  has  mysteriously  dis 
appeared,"  continued  Alice  ;  "  or  rather  who  was 
captured  by  your  companions  ;  know  you  aught  of 
him,  John  ?" 

"  I  have  heard  there  was  a  miscreant  of  that 
name,  but  we  have  never  met.  Alice,  if  it  please 
Heaven  that  this  shall  be  the  last" — 

"  He  was  a  captive  in  the  schooner  called  the 
Ariel,"  she  added,  still  unheeding  his  affected  in 
difference  to  her  communication,  "  and  when  per 
mitted  to  return  to  St.  Ruth,  he  lost  sight  of  his 
solemn  promise,  and  of  his  plighted  honour,  to 
wreak  his  malice.  Instead  of  effecting  the  ex 
change  that  he  had  conditioned  to  see  made,  he 


480  THE    PIJLOT. 

plotted  treason  against  his  captors.  Yes !  it  was 
most  foul  treason  !  for  his  treatment  was  generous 
and  kind,  and  his  liberation  certain." 

"  He  was  a  most  unworthy  scoundrel !  But, 
Alice"— 

"  Nay,  listen,  John,"  she  continued,  urged  to 
even  a  keener  interest  in  his  behalf  by  his  apparent 
inattention ;  "  and  yet  I  should  speak  tenderly  of 
his  failings,  for  he  is  already  numbered  with  the 
dead !  One  part  of  his  scheme  must  have  been 
frustrated,  for  he  intended  to  destroy  that  schoonei 
which  you  call  the  Ariel,  and  to  have  taken  the 
person  of  the  young  Barnstable." 

"  In  both  of  which  he  has  failed  !  The  person 
of  Barnstable  I  have  rescued,  and  the  Ariel  has 
been  stricken  by  a  hand  far  mightier  than  any  of 
this  world  !  she  is  wrecked." 

"  Then  is  the  frigate  your  only  means  of  escape  ! 
Hasten,  John,  and  seem  not  so  proud  and  heed 
less,  for  the  hour  may  come  when  all  your  daring 
will  not  profit  ye  against  the  machinations  of  se 
cret  enemies.  This  Dillon  had  also  planned  that 
expresses  should  journey  to  a  sea-port  at  the  south 
with  the  intelligence  that  your  vessels  were  in 
these  seas,  in  order  that  ships  might  be  despatched 
to  intercept  your  retreat." 

The  Pilot  lost  his  affected  indifference  as  she 
proceeded,  and  before  she  ceased  speaking,  his 
eye  was  endeavouring  to  anticipate  her  words,  by 
reading  her  countenance  through  the  dusky  me 
dium  of  the  star-light. 

"  How  know  you  this,  Alice  ?"  he  asked  quick 
ly — ^  and  what  vessel  did  he  name  ?" 

"  Chance  made  me  an  unseen  listener  to  their 
plan,  and — I  know  not  but  I  forget  my  duty  to  my 
i>rince  !  but,  John,  'tis  asking  too  much  of  weak 
woman  to  require  that  she  shall  see  the  man  whom 


THE    PILOT.  481 

she  once  viewed  with  eyes  of  favour,  sacrificed, 
when  a  word  of  caution,  given  in  season,  might 
enable  him  to  avoid  the  danger  !" 

"  Once  viewed  with  an  eye  of  favour  !  Is  it  then 
so  ?"  said  the  Pilot,  speaking  in  a  vacant  manner. 
"  But,  Alice,  heard  ye  the  force  of  the  ships,  or 
their  names  ?  Give  me  their  names,  and  the  first 
lord  of  your  British  admiralty  shall  not  give  so 
true  an  account  of  their  force,  as  I  will  furnish  from 
this  list  of  my  own." 

"  Their  names  were  certainly  mentioned,"  said 
Alice,  with  tender  melancholy  ;  "  but  the  name  of 
one  far  nearer  to  me  was  ringing  in  my  ears,  and 
has  driven  them  from  my  mind." 

"  You  are  the  same  good  Alice  I  once  knew ! 
And  my  name  was  mentioned  ?  What  said  they 
of  the  Pirate  ?  Had  his  arm  stricken  a  blow  that 
made  them  tremble  in  their  Abbey  ?  Did  they 
call  him  coward,  girl  ?" 

"It  was  mentioned  in  terms  that  pained  my 
heart  as  I  listened.  For,  it  is  ever  too  easy  a  task 
to  forget  the  lapse  of  years,  nor  are  the  feelings  of 
youth  to  be  easily  eradicated." 

"  Ay,  there  is  luxury  in  knowing,  that  with 
all  their  affected  abuse,  the  slaves  dread  me  in 
their  secret  holds  !"  exclaimed  the  Pilot,  pacing  in 
front  of  his  listener,  with  quick  steps.  "  This  it  is 
to  be  marked,  among  men,  above  all  others  in 
your  calling !  I  hope  yet  to  see  the  day  when  the 
third  George  shall  start  at  the  sound  of  that  name, 
even  within  the  walls  of  his  palace." 

Alice  Dunscombe  heard  him  in  deep  and  morti 
fied  silence.  It  was  too  evident  that  a  link  in  the 
chain  of  their  sympathies  was  broken,  and  that  the 
weakness  in  which  she  had  been  unconsciously  in 
dulging,  was  met  by  no  correspondent  emotions  in 
him.  After  sinking  her  head  for  a  moment  on  he 
42 


482  THE    PILOT. 


bosom,  she  arose  with  a  little  more  than 
usual  air  of  meekness,  and  recalled  the  Pilot  to  a 
sense  of  her  presence,  by  saying,  in  a  yet  mildez 
voice  — 

"  I  have  now  Communicated  all  that  it  can  profit 
you  to  know,  and  it  is  meet  that  we  separate." 

"  What,  thus  soon  ?"  he  cried,  starting  and  tak 
ing  her  hand.  "  This  is  but  a  short  interview, 
Alice,  to  precede  so  long  a  separation." 

"  Be  it  short,  or  be  it  long,  it  must  now  end,'' 
she  replied.  "  Your  companions  are  on  the  eve 
of  departure,  and  I  trust  you  would  be  one  of  the 
last  who  would  wish  to  be  deserted.  If  ye  do  visit 
England  again,  I  hope  it  may  be  with  altered  sen 
timents,  so  far  as  regards  her  interests.  I  wish  ye 
peace,  John,  and  the  blessings  of  God,  as  ye  may 
be  found  to  deserve  them." 

"  I  ask  no  farther,  unless  it  may  be  the  aid  of 
your  gentle  prayers  !  But  the  night  is  gloomy, 
and  I  will  see  you  in  safety  to  the  Abbey." 

"  It  is  unnecessary,"  she  returned,  with  woman 
ly  reserve.  "  The  innocent  can  be  as  fearless  on 
occasion,  as  the  most  valiant  among  you  warriors, 
But  here  is  no  cause  for  fear.  I  shall  take  a  path 
that  will  conduct  me  in  a  different  way  from  that 
which  is  occupied  by  your  soldiers,  and  where  I 
shall  find  none  but  him  who  is  ever  present  to 
protect  the  helpless.  Once  more,  John,  I  bid  ye 
adieu."  Her  voice  faltered  as  she  continued  — 
"  Ye  will  share  the  lot  of  humanity,  and  have  your 
hours  of  care  and  weakness  ;  at  such  moments  ye 
can  remember  those  ye  leave  on  this  despised 
island,  and  perhaps  among  them  ye  may  think  of 
some  whose  interest  in  your  welfare  has  been  far 
removed  from  selfishness." 

"  God  be  with  you,  Alice  !"  he  said,  touched 
with  her  emotion,  and  losing  all  vain  images  in 


THE    PILOT.  483 

more  woi  thy  feelings — "  but  I  cannot  permit  you 
to  go  alone." 

"  Here  we  part,  John,"  she  said  firmly,  "  and 
for  ever  !"  'Tis  for  the  happiness  of  both,  for  I 
fear  we  have  but  little  in  common."  She  gently 
wrested  her  hand  from  his  grasp,  and  once  more 
bidding  him  adieu,  in  a  voice  that  was  nearly  in 
audible,  she  turned  and  slowly  disappeared,  mov 
ing,  with  lingering  steps,  in  the  direction  of  the 
Abbey. 

The  first  impulse  of  the  Pilot  was,  certainly,  to 
follow,  and  insist  on  seeing  her  on  the  way ;  but 
the  music  of  the  guard  on  the  cliffs  at  that  moment 
sent  forth  its  martial  strains,  and  the  whistle  of  the 
boatswain  was  heard  winding  its  shrill  call  among 
the  rocks,  in  those  notes  that  his  practised  ear 
well  understood  to  be  the  last  signal  for  embark 
ing. 

Obedient  to  the  summons,  this  singular  man,  in 
whose  breast  the  natural  feelings,  that  were  now 
on  the  eve  of  a  violent  eruption,  had  so  long  been 
smothered  by  the  visionary  expectations  of  a  wild 
ambition,  and  perhaps  of  fierce  resentments,  pur 
sued  his  course,  in  deep  abstraction,  towards  the 
boats.  He  was  soon  met  by  the  soldiers  of  Bor- 
roughcliffe,  deprived  of  their  arms,  it  is  true, 
but  unguarded,  and  returning  peacefully  to  their 
quarters.  The  mind  of  the  Pilot,  happily  for  the 
liberty  of  these  men,  was  too  much  absorbed  in 
his  peculiar  reflections,  to  note  this  act  of  Grif 
fith's  generosity,  nor  did  he  arouse  from  his  mu 
sing  until  his  steps  were  arrested  by  suddenly  en 
countering  a  human  figure  in  the  path-way.  A 
light  tap  on  his  shoulder  was  the  first  mark  of  re 
cognition  he  received,  when  Borroughcliffe,  who 
stood  before  him,  said — 

"  It  is  evident,  sir,  from  what  has  passed  this 


484  THE    PILOT. 

evening,  that  you  are  not  what  you  seem.  You 
may  be  some  rebel  admiral  or  general,  for  aught 
that  I  know,  the  right  to  command  having  been 
strangely  contested  among  ye  this  night.  But  let 
who  will  own  the  chief  authority,  I  take  the  liber* 
ty  of  W7hispering  in  your  ear  that  I  have  been  scur- 
vily  treated  by  you — I  repeat,  most  scurvily  treat 
ed  by  you  all,  generally,  and  by  you  in  particu 
lar." 

The  Pilot  started  at  this  strange  address,  which 
was  uttered  with  all  the  bitterness  that  could  be 
imparted  to  it  by  a  disappointed  man ;  but  he  mo 
tioned  with  his  hand  for  the  captain  to  depart,  and 
turned  aside  to  pursue  his  own  way. 

"  Perhaps  I  am  not  properly  understood,"  con 
tinued  the  obstinate  soldier ;  "  I  say,  sir,  you  have 
treated  me  scurvily  ;  and  I  would  not  be  thought 
to  say  this  to  any  gentleman,  without  wishing  to 
give  him  an  opportunity  to  vent  his  anger." 

The  eye  of  the  Pilot,  as  he  moved  forward, 
glanced  at  the  pistols  which  Borroughcliffe  held  in 
his  hands,  the  one  by  the  handle,  and  the  other 
by  its  barrel,  and  the  soldier  even  fancied  that  his 
footsteps  were  quickened  by  the  sight.  After 
gazing  at  him  until  his  form  was  lost  in  the  dark 
ness,  the  captain  muttered  to  himself — 

"  He  is  no  more  than  a  common  Pilot  after  all ! 
No  true  gentleman  would  have  received  so  palpa 
ble  a  hint  with  such  a  start.  Ah  !  here  comes  the 
party  of  my  worthy  friend  whose  palate  knows  a 
grape  of  the  north  side  of  Madeira  from  one  of  the 
south.  The  dog  has  the  throat  of  a  gentleman  ! 
we  will  see  how  he  can  swallow  a  delicate  allusion 
to  his  faults !" 

Borroughcliffe  stepped  aside  to  allow  the  ma 
rines,  w7ho  were  also  in  motion  for  the  boats,  to 
pass,  and  watched  with  keen  looks  for  the  person 


THE    PILOT.  4  S5 

oi  the  commander.  Manual,  who  had  been  pre 
viously  apprised  of  the  intention  of  Griffith  to 
release  the  prisoners,  had  halted  to  see  that  none 
but  those  who  had  been  liberated  by  authority, 
were  marching  into  the  country.  This  accidental 
circumstance  gave  Borroughcliffe  an  opportunity 
of  •M«*ri^  the  other  at  some  little  distance  from 
either  of  their  respective  pan: 

"  I  greet  you,  sir,"  said  Borroughcliflfe,  "  with 
all  affection.  This  has  been  a  pleasant  forage  for 
you.  Captain  Manual." 

The  marine  was  far  from  being  disposed  to 
wrangle,  but  there  was  that  in  the  voice  of  the 
other  which  caused  him  to  answer — 

"  It  would  have  been  far  pleasanter,  sir,  if  I  had 
met  an  opportunity  of  returning  to  Captain  Bor- 
roughcliiTe  some  of  the  favours  that  1  have  received 
at  his  hands." 

"  Nay,  then,  dear  sir,  you  weigh  my  modesty  to 
the  earth  !  Surely  you  forget  the  manner  in 
which  my  hospitality  has  already  been  requited— 
by  some  two  hours9  mouthing  of  my  sword  hilt ; 
with  a  very  unceremonious  ricochet  into  a  corner ; 
together  with  a  love-tap,  received  over  the  shoul 
ders  of  one  of  my  men,  by  so  gentle  an  instrument 
as  the  butt  of  a  musket !  Damme,  sir,  but  1  think 
an  ungrateful  man  only  a  better  sort  of  beast !" 

Ci  Had  the  love-tap  been  given  to  the  officer  in 
stead  of  the  man,"  returned  Manual,  with  all  com 
mendable  coolness,  "  it  would  have  been  better 
justice ;  and  the  ramrod  might  have  answered  as 
well  as  the  butt,  to  floor  a  gentleman  who  carried 
the  allowance  of  four  thirsty  fiddlers  under  one 
man's  jacket" 

t;  Now,  that  is  rank  ingratitude  to  your 
cordial  of  the  south  side,  and  a  most  biting  insult ! 
I  really  see  but  one  way  of  terminating  this  wordy 
42* 


486  THE    PILOT. 

war,  which,  if  not  discreetly  ended,  may  lead  us 
far  into  the  morning." 

"  Elect  your  own  manner  of  determining  the 
dispute,  sir ;  I  hope,  however,  it  will  not  be  by 
your  innate  knowledge  of  mankind,  which  has  al 
ready  mistaken  a  captain  of  marines  in  the  service 
of  Congress,  for  a  runaway  lover,  bound  to  some 
green  place  or  other." 

"  You  might  just  as  well  tweak  my  nose,  sir  !" 
said  Borroughcliffe.  "  Indeed,  I  think  it  would 
be  the  milder  reproach  of  the  two  !  will  you  make 
your  selection  of  these,  sir  ?  They  were  loaded 
for  a  very  different  sort  of  service,  but  I  doubt  not 
will  answer  on  occasion." 

"  I  am  provided  with  a  pair,  that  are  charged 
for  any  service,"  returned  Manual,  drawing  a  pis 
tol  from  his,  own  belt,  and  stepping  backward  a  few 
paces. 

"  You  are  destined  lor  Ameiica,  I  know,"  said 
Borroughcliffe,  who  stood  his  ground  with  con 
summate  coolness ;  "  but  it  would  be  more  con 
venient  for  me,  sir,  if  you  could  delay  your  march 
for  a  single  moment." 

"  Fire  and  defend  yourself!"  exclaimed  Ma 
nual  furiously,  retracing  his  steps  towards  his 
enemy. 

The  sounds  of  the  two  pistols  were  blended  in 
one  report,  and  the  soldiers  of  Borroughcliffe  and 
the  marines  all  rushed  to  the  place,  on  the  sudden 
alarm.  Had  the  former  been  provided  with  arms, 
it  is  probable  a  bloody  fray  would  have  been  the 
consequence  of  the  sight  that  both  parties  beheld 
on  arriving  at  the  spot,  which  they  did  simultane 
ously.  Manual  lay  on  his  back,  without  any  signs 
of  life,  and  Borroughcliffe  had  changed  his  cool, 
haughty,  upright  attitude,  for  a  recumbent  posture, 
which  was  somewhat  between  lying  and  sitting. 


THE    PILOT.  487 

"  Is  the  poor  fellow  actually  expended  ?"  said 
the  Englishman,  in  something  like  the  tones  of  re 
gret  ;  "  well,  he  had  a  soldier's  metal  in  him,  and 
was  nearly  as  great  a  fool  as  myself !" 

The  marines  had,  luckily  for  the  soldiers  and 
their  captain,  by  this  time  discovered  the  signs  of 
life  in  their  own  commander,  who  had  been  only 
slightly  stunned  by  the  bullet  which  had  grazed  his 
erown,  and  who  being  assisted  on  his  feet,  stood  a 
minute  or  two  rubbing  his  head,  as  if  awaking  from 
a  dream.  As  Manual  came  gradually  to  his  senses 
he  recollected  the  business  in  which  he  had  just 
been  engaged,  and,  in  his  turn,  inquired  after  the 
fate  of  his  antagonist. 

"  I  am  here,  my  worthy  incognito,"  cried  the 
other,  with  the  voice  of  perfect  good  nature  ;  "  ly 
ing  in  the  lap  of  mother  Earth,  and  all  the  better 
for  opening  a  vein  or  two  in  my  right  leg  ; — though 
I  do  think  that  the  same  effect  might  have  been 
produced  without  treating  the  bone  so  roughly  ! — 
But  I  opine  that  I  saw  you  also  reclining  on  the 
bosom  of  our  common  ancestor." 

"  I  was  down  for  a  few  minutes,  I  do  believe,' 
returned  Manual ;  "  there  is  the  path  of  a  bullet 
across  my  scalp  !" 

"  Humph  !  on  the  head  !"  said  Borroughcliffe, 
dryly  ;  "  the  hurt  is  not  likely  to  be  mortal,  I  see. 
— Well,  I  shall  offer  to  raffle  with  the  first  poor 
devil  1  can  find  that  has  but  one  good  leg,  for  who 
shall  have  both  ;  and  that  will  just  set  up  a  beggar 
and  a  gentleman  ! — Manual,  give  me  your  hand  ; 
we  have  drank  together,  and  we  have  fought ; 
surely  there  is  nothing  now  to  prevent  our  being 
sworn  friends  !" 

"  Why,"  returned  Manual,  continuing  to  rub  his 
head,  "  I  see  no  irremoveable  objections — but  you 
will  want  a  surgeon  ?  can  I  order  any  thing  to  be 


488  THIS    PILOT. 

done  ?  There  go  the  signals  again  to  embark — 
march  the  fellows  down  at  quick  time,  sergeant ; 
my  own  man  may  remain  with  me,  or,  I  can  do  al 
together  without  assistance." 

"  Ah  !  you  are  what  I  call  a  well  made  man, 
my  dear  friend  !"  exclaimed  Borroughcliife  ;  "  no 
weak  points  about  your  fortress!  such  a  man  is 
worthy  to  be  the  head  of  a  whole  corps,  instead  of 
a  solitary  company. — Gently,  Drill,  gently ;  handle 
me  as  if  I  were  made  of  potter's  clay. — I  will  not 
detain  you  longer,  my  friend  Manual,  for  I  hear 
signal  after  signal ;  they  must  be  in  want  of  some 
of  your  astonishing  reasoning  faculties  to  set  them 
afloat." 

Manual  might  have  been  offended  at  the  palpa 
ble  allusions  that  his  new  friend  made  to  the  firm 
ness  of  his  occiput,  had  not  his  perception  of  things 
been  a  little  confused,  by  a  humming  sound  that 
seemed  to  abide  near  the  region  of  thought.  As  it 
was,  he  reciprocated  the  good  wishes  of  the  other, 
whom  he  shook  most  cordially  by  the  hand,  and 
once  more  renewed  his  offers  of  service,  after  ex 
changing  sundry  friendly  speeches. 

"  I  thank  you  quite  as  much  as  if  I  were  not  at 
all  indebted  to  you  for  letting  blood,  thereby  sav 
ing  me  a  fit  of  apoplexy ;  but  Drill  has  already 

despatched  a  messenger  to  B for  a  leech,  and 

the  lad  may  bring  the  whole  depot  down  upon 
you. — Adieu,  once  more,  and  remember,  that  if 
you  ever  visit  England  again  as  a  friend,  you  are 
to  let  me  see  you." 

"  I  shall  do  it  without  fail ;  and  I  shall  keep  you 
to  your  promise  if  you  once  more  put  foot  in 
America." 

"  Trust  me  for  that :  I  shall  stand  in  need  ol 
your  excellent  head  to  guide  me  safely  among 


THE   PILOT,  489 

those  rude   foresters !  Adieu ;   cease  not  to  bear 
me  in  your  thoughts." 

"  I  shall  never  cease  to  remember  you,  my  good 
friend,"  returned  Manual,  again  scratching  the 
member  which  was  snapping  in  a  manner  that 
caused  him  to  fancy  he  heard  it.  Once  more  these 
worthies  shook  each  other  by  the  hand,  and  again 
they  renewed  their  promises  of  future  intercourse ; 
after  which  they  separated  like  two  reluctant 
lovers — parting  in  a  manner  that  would  have  put 
to  shame  the  friendship  of  Orestes  and  Pylades ! 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


"  Nay,  aniwer  me :  stand  and  unfold  yournelf." 

Hamlet 


DURING  the  time  occupied  by  the  incidents  that 
occurred  after  the  Pilot  had  made  his  descent  on 
the  land,  the  Alacrity,  now  under  the  orders  of  Mr. 
Boltrope,  the  master  of  the  frigate,  lay  off  and  on, 
in  readiness  to  receive  the  successful  mariners. 
The  direction  of  the  wind  had  been  gradually 
changing  from  the  north-east  to  the  south,  during 
the  close  of  the  day ;  and  long  before  the  middle 
watches  of  the  night,  the  wary  old  seaman,  who, 
it  may  be  remembered,  had  expressed,  in  the  coun 
cil  of  war,  such  a  determined  reluctance  to  trust 
his  person  within  the  realm  of  Britain,  ordered  the 
man  who  steered  the  cutter  to  stand  in  boldly  for 
the  land.  Whenever  the  lead  told  them  that  it  was 
prudent  to  tack,  the  course  of  the  vessel  was  chang 
ed  ;  and  in  this  manner  the  seamen  continued  to 
employ  the  hours  in  patient  attendance  on  the  ad 
venturers.  The  sailing-master,  who  had  spent 
the  early  years  of  his  life  as  the  commander  of 
divers  vessels  employed  in  trading,  was  apt,  like 
many  men  of  his  vocation  and  origin,  to  mistake 
the  absence  of  refinement  for  the  surest  evidence 


THE    PILOT.  491 

of  seamanship ;  and,  consequently,  he  held  the  lit 
tle  courtesies  and  punctilios  of  a  man-of-war  in 
high  disdain.  His  peculiar  duties  of  superintend 
ing  the  expenditure  of  the  ship's  stores,  in  their 
several  departments ;  of  keeping  the  frigate's  log 
book  ;  and  of  making  his  daily  examinations  into 
the  state  of  her  sails  and  rigging,  brought  him  so 
little  in  collision  with  the  gay,  laughing,  reckless 
young  lieutenants,  who  superintended  the  ordinary 
management  of  the  vessel,  that  he  might  be  said  to 
have  formed  a  distinct  species  of  the  animal, 
though  certainly  of  the  same  genus  with  his  more 
polished  messmates.  Whenever  circumstances, 
however,  required  that  he  should  depart  from  the 
dull  routine  of  his  duty,  he  made  it  a  rule,  as  far 
as  possible,  to  associate  himself  with  such  of  the 
crew  as  possessed  habits  and  opinions  the  least  at 
variance  with  his  own. 

By  a  singular  fatality,  the  chaplain  of  the  fri 
gate  was,  as  respects  associates,  in  a  condition, 
nearly  assimilated  to  that  of  this  veteran  tar. 

An  earnest  desire  to  ameliorate  the  situation  of 
those  who  were  doomed  to  meet  death  on  the 
great  deep,  had  induced  an  experienced  and  sim 
ple-hearted  divine  to  accept  this  station,  in  the 
fond  hope  that  he  might  be  made  the  favoured  in 
strument  of  salvation  to  many,  who  were  then  ex 
isting  in  a  state  of  the  most  abandoned  self-for- 
getfulness.  Neither  our  limits,  nor  our  present 
object,  will  permit  the  relation  of  the  many  causes 
that  led,  not  only  to  an  entire  frustration  of  all  his 
visionary  expectations,  but  to  an  issue  which  ren 
dered  the  struggle  of  the  good  divine  with  himself 
both  arduous  and  ominous,  in  order  to  maintain 
his  own  claims  to  the  merited  distinctions  of  his 
sacred  office.  The  consciousness  of  his  backsliding 
had  so  far  lessened  the  earthly,  if  not  the  spiritual 


492  THE  PILOT. 

pride  of  the  chaplain,  as  to  induce  him  to  relisn 
the  society  of  the  rude  master,  whose  years  had 
brought  him,  at  times,  to  take  certain  views  of  fu 
turity,  that  were  singularly  affected  by  the  pecu 
liar  character  of  the  individual.  It  might  have 
been  that  both  found  themselves  out  of  their  places 
— but  it  was  owing  to  some  such  secret  sympathy, 
let  its  origin  be  what  it  would,  that  the  two  came 
to  be  fond  of  each  other's  company.  On  the  night 
in  question,  Mr.  Boltrope  had  invited  the  chaplain 
to  accompany  him  in  the  Alacrity  ;  adding,  in  hi» 
broad,  rough  language,  that  as  there  was  to  be 
fighting  on  shore,  "  his  hand  might  come  in  play 
with  some  poor  fellow  or  other/'  This  singular  in 
vitation  had  been  accepted,  as  well  from  a  desire 
to  relieve  the  monotony  of  a  sea  life  by  any  change, 
as  perhaps  with  a  secret  yearning  in  the  breast  of 
the  troubled  divine,  to  get  as  nigh  to  terra  firma  as 
possible.  Accordingly,  after  the  Pilot  had  landed 
with  his  boisterous  party,  the  sailing-master  and 
the  chaplain,  together  with  a  boatswain's-mate  and 
some  ten  or  twelve  seamen,  were  left  in  quiet 
possession  of  the  cutter.  The  first  few  hours  of 
this  peaceable  intercourse  had  been  spent  by  the 
worthy  messmates,  in  the  little  cabin  of  the  vessel, 
over  a  can  of  grog ;  the  savoury  relish  of  which 
was  much  increased  by  a  characteristic  disquisition 
on  polemical  subjects,  which  our  readers  have 
great  reason  to  regret  it  is  not  our  present  humour 
to  record.  When,  however,  the  winds  invited  the 
nearer  approach  to  the  hostile  shores  already  men 
tioned,  the  prudent  sailing-master  adjourned  the 
discussion  to  another  and  more  suitable  time,  re 
moving  himself  and  the-  can,  by  the  same  opera 
tion,  to  the  quarter-deck. 

"  There,"  cried  the  honest  tar,  placing  the  wood 
en  vessel,  with  great  self-contentment,  by  his  side 


THE    PILOT.  493 

on  the  deck, "  this  is  ship's  comfort !  There  is  a 
good  deal  of  what  I  call  a  lubber's  fuss,  parson, 
kept  up  on  board  a  ship  that  shall  be  nameless,  but 
which  bears,  about  three  leagues  distant,  broad 
off  in  the  ocean,  and  which  is  lying-to  under  a 
close-reefed  maintopsail,  a  foretopmast-staysail 
and  foresail — I  call  my  hand  a  true  one  in  mixing 
a  can — take  another  pull  at  the  halyards  ! — 'twill 
make  your  eye  twinkle  like  a  light-house,  this 
dark  morning  !  You  won't  ?  well,  we  must  give 
no  offence  to  the  Englishman's  rum." — After  a  po 
tent  draught  had  succeeded  this  considerate  de 
claration,  he  added — "  You  are  a  little  like  our 
first  lieutenant,  parson,  who  drinks,  as  I  call  it,  no 
thing  but  the  elements — which  is,  water  stiffened 
with  air !" 

"  Mr.  Griffith  may  indeed  be  said  to  set  a 
wholesome  example  to  the  crew,"  returned  the 
chaplain,  perhaps  with  a  slight  consciousness  that  it 
had  not  altogether  possessed  its  due  weight  with 
himself. 

"  Wholesome  !"  -cried  Boltrope  ;  "  let  me  tell 
you,  my  worthy  leaf-turner,  that  if  you  call  such 
a  light  diet  wholesome,  you  know  but  little  of  salt 
water  and  sea-fogs !  However,  Mr.  Griffith  is  a 
seaman ;  and  if  he  gave  his  mind  less  to  trifles  and 
gimcracks,  he  would  be,  by  the  time  he  got  to 
about  our  years,  a  very  rational  sort  of  a  compa 
nion. — But  you  see,  parson,  just  now,  he  thinks 
too  much  of  small  follies  ;  such  as  man-of-war  dis- 
ciplyne. — Now  there  is  rationality  in  giving  a  fresh 
nip  to  a  rope,  or  in  looking  well  at  your  mats,  or 
even  in  crowning  a  cable ;  but  damme,  priest,  if  I 
see  the  use — luff,  luff,  you  lubber  ;  don't  ye  see, 
sir,  you  are  steering  for  Garmany  ! — If  I  see  the 
use,  as  I  was  saying,  of  making  a  rumpus  about  the 
time  when  a  man  changes  his  shirt ;  whether  it  be 
41 


491  THE    PILOT. 

this  week,  or  next  week,  or,  for  that  matter,  the 
week  after,  provided  it  be  bad  weather.  I  some 
times  am  mawkish  about  attending  muster,  (and  I 
believe  I  have  as  little  to  fear  on  the  score  of  be 
haviour  as  any  man,)  lest  it  should  be  found  I  car 
ried  my  tobacco  in  the  wrong  cheek !" 

"  I  have  indeed  thought  it  somewhat  trouble 
some  to  myself,  at  times  ;  and  it  is  in  a  striking 
degree  vexatious  to  the  spirit,  especially  when  the 
body  has  been  suffering  under  sea-sickness." 

"  Why,  yes,  you  were  a  little  apt  to  bend  your 
duds  wrong  for  the  first  month,  or  so,"  said  the 
master  ;  "  I  remember  you  got  the  marine's  scra 
per  on  your  head,  once,  in  your  hurry  to  bury  a 
dead  man  !  Then  you  never  looked  as  if  you  be 
longed  to  the  ship,  so  long  as  those  cursed  black 
knee-breeches  lasted  !  For  my  part,  I  never  saw 
you  come  up  the  quarter-deck  ladder,  but  I  ex 
pected  to  see  your  shins  give  way  across  the 
combing  of  the  hatch — a  man  does  look  like  the 
devil,  priest,  scudding  about  a  ship's  decks  in  that 
fashion,  under  bare  poles  !  But  now  the  tailor  has 
found  out  the  articles  ar'n't  sea-worthy,  and  we 
have  got  your  lower  stanchions  cased  in  a  pair  of 
purser's  slops,  I  am  puzzled  often  to  tell  your  heels 
from  those  of  a  maintop-man  !" 

"  I  have  good  reason  to  be  thankful  for  the 
change,"  said  the  humbled  priest,  "  if  the  resem 
blance  you  mention  existed,  while  I  was  clad  in 
the  usual  garb  of  one  of  my  calling." 

"  What  signifies  a  calling  ?"  returned  Boltrope, 
catching  his  breath  after  a  most  persevering 
draught ;  "  a  man's  shins  are  his  shins,  let  his  up 
per  works  belong  to  what  sarvice  they  may.  I 
took  an  early  prejudyce  against  knee-breeches, 
perhaps  from  a  trick  I've  always  had  of  figuring 
the  devil  as  wearing  them.  You  know,  parson, 


THE    PILOT.  495 

we  seldom  hear  much  said  of  a  man,  without  form 
ing  some  sort  of  an  idea  concerning  his  rigging  and 
fashion-pieces — and  so  as  I  had  no  particular  rea 
son  to  believe  that  Satan  went  naked — keep  full, 
ye  lubber ;  now  you  are  running  into  the  wind's 

eye,  and  be  d d  to  ye  ! — but  as  I  was  saying, 

I  always  took  a  conceit  that  the  devil  wore  knee- 
breeches  and  a  cock'd  hat.  There's  some  of  our 
young  lieutenants,  who  come  to  muster  on  Sun 
days  in  cock'd  hats,  just  like  soldier-officers  ;  but, 
d'ye  see,  I  would  sooner  show  my  nose  under  a 
night-cap,  than  under  a  scraper  !" 

"  I  hear  the  sound  of  oars  !"  exclaimed  the 
chaplain,  who,  finding  this  image  more  distinct 
than  even  his  own  vivid  conceptions  of  the  great 
father  of  evil,  was  quite  willing  to  conceal  his  in 
feriority  by  changing  the  discourse — "  Is  not  one 
of  our  boats  returning  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  'tis  likely  ;  if  it  had  been  me,  I  should 
have  been  land-sick  before  this — wear  round, 
boys,  and  stand  by  to  heave-to  on  the  other 
tack." 

The  cutter,  obedient  to  her  helm,  fell  off  before 
the  wind,  and  rolling  an  instant  in  the  trough  of 
the  sea,  came  up  again  easily  to  her  oblique  posi 
tion,  with  her  head  towards  the  cliffs,  and  gradu 
ally  losing  her  way,  as  her  sails  were  brought  to 
counteract  each  other,  finally  became  stationary. 
During  the  performance  of  this  evolution,  a  boat 
had  hove  up  out  of  the  gloom,  in  the  direction  of 
the  land,  and  by  the  time  the  Alacrity  was  in  a 
state  of  rest,  it  had  approached  so  nigh  as  to  ad 
mit  of  hailing. 

"  Boat,  ahoy  !"  murmured  Boltrope,  through  a 
trumpet,  which,  aided  by  his  lungs,  produced 
sounds  not  unlike  the  roaring  of  a  bull. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  was  thrown  back  from  a  clear  voice, 


496  THE   PILOT. 

that  swept  across  the  water  with  a  fulness  that 
needed  no  factitious  aid  to  render  it  audible. 

"  Ay,  there  comes  one  of  the  lieutenants,  with 
his  ay,  ay,"  said  Boltrope — "  pipe  the  side,  there, 
you  boatswain's-mate  !  But  here's  another  fellow 
more  on  our  quarter !  boat  a-hoy  !" 

"  Alacrity" — returned  another  voice,  in  a  di 
rection  different  from  the  other 

u  Alacrity  !  There  goes  my  commission  of  Cap 
tain  of  this  craft,  in  a  whiff,"  returned  the  sailing- 
master. — "  That  is  as  much  as  to  say,  here  comes 
one  who  will  command  when  he  gets  on  board. 
Well,  well,  it  is  Mr.  Griffith,  and  I  can't  say,  not 
withstanding  his  love  of  knee-buckles,  and  small 
wares,  but  I'm  glad  he  is  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
English  !  Ay,  here  they  all  come  upon  us  at  once ! 
here  is  another  fellow,  that  pulls  like  the  jolly- 
boat,  coming  up  on  our  lee-beam,  within  hail — let 
us  see  if  he  is  asleep — boat  a-hoy  !" 

"  Flag,"  answered  a  third  voice  from  a  small, 
light-rowing  boat  which  had  approached  very  near 
the  cutter,  in  a  direct  line  from  the  cliffs,  without 
being  observed. 

"  Flag !"  echoed  Boltrope,  dropping  his  trumpet 
in  amazement — "  that's  a  big  word  to  come  out  of 
a  jolly-boat !  Jack  Manly  himself  could  not  have 
spoke  it  with  a  fuller  mouth — but  I'll  know  who  it 
is  that  carries  such  a  weather  helm,  with  a  Yankee 
man-of-war's  prize  !  Boat  a-hoy  !  I  say." 

This  last  call  was  uttered  in  those  short  mena 
cing  tones,  that  are  intended  to  be  understood  as 
intimating  that  the  party  hailing  is  in  earnest ;  and 
it  caused  the  men  who  were  rowing,  and  who 
were  now  quite  close  to  the  cutter,  to  suspend 
their  strokes,  simultaneously,  as  if  they  dreaded 
that  the  cry  would  be  instantly  succeeded  by  some 
more  efficient  means  of  ascertaining  their  charac- 


THE    PILOT.  497 

ter.  The  figure  that  was  seated  by  itself  in  the 
stem  of  the  boat,  started  at  this  second  summons, 
and  then,  as  if  with  sudden  recollection,  a  quiet 
voice  replied — 

^  No— no." 

"  '  No — no,'  and  c  flag,'  are  very  different  an 
swers,"  grumbled  Boltrope  ;  "  what  know-nothing 
have  we  here  ?" 

He  was  yet  muttering  his  dissatisfaction  at  the 
ignorance  of  the  individual  that  was  approaching, 
whoever  it  might  be,  when  the  jolly-boat  came 
slowly  to  their  side,  and  the  Pilot  stepped  from 
her  stern-sheets  on  the  decks  of  the  prize. 

"  Is  it  you,  Mr.  Pilot  ?"  exclaimed  the  sailing- 
master,  raising  a  battle-lantern  within  a  foot  of  the 
other's  face,  and  looking  with  a  sort  of  stupid  won 
der  at  the  proud  and  angry  eye  he  encountered — 
"  is  it  you  !  well,  I  should  have  rated  you  for  a 
man  of  more  experience  than  to  come  booming 
down  upon  a  man-of-war  in  the  dark,  with  such  a 
big  word  in  your  mouth,  when  every  boy  in  the 
two  vessels  knows  that  we  carry  no  swallow-tailed 
bunting  abroad  !  Flag  !  why  you  might  have  got 
a  shot,  had  there  been  soldiers." 

The  Pilot  threw  him  a  still  fiercer  glance,  and 
turning  away  with  a  look  of  disgust,  he  walked 
along  the  quarter-deck  towards  the  stern  of  the 
vessel,  with  an  air  of  haughty  silence,  as  if  dis 
daining  to  answer.  Boltrope  kept  his  eyes  fas 
tened  on  him  for  a  moment  longer,  with  some  ap 
pearance  of  scorn ;  but  the  arrival  of  the  boat  first 
hailed,  which  proved  to  be  the  barge,  immediately 
drew  his  attention  to  other  matters.  Barnstable 
had  been  rowing  about  in  the  ocean  for  a  long 
time,  unable  to  find  the  cutter,  and  as  he  had  been 
compelled  to  suit  his  own  demeanour  to  those  with 
whom  he  was  associated,  he  reached  the  Alacrity 
41* 


498  THE    PILOT. 

in  no  very  good-humoured  mood.  Colonel  How 
ard  and  his  niece  had  maintained  during  the  whole 
period,  the  most  rigid  silence,  the  former  from 
pride,  and  the  latter  touched  with  her  uncle's  evi 
dent  displeasure  ;  and  Katherine,  though  secretly 
elated  with  the  success  of  all  her  projects,  was 
content  to  emulate  their  demeanour  for  a  short 
time  in  order  to  save  appearances.  Barnstable 
had  several  times  addressed  himself  to  the  latter, 
without  receiving  any  other  answer  than  such  as 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  prevent  the  lover  from 
taking  direct  offence,  at  the  same  time  that  she 
intimated  by  her  manner  her  willingness  to  re 
main  silent.  Accordingly,  the  lieutenant,  after 
aiding  the  ladies  to  enter  the  cutter,  and  offering 
to  perform  the  same  service  to  Colonel  Howard, 
which  was  coldly  declined,  turned,  with  that  sort 
of  irritation  that  is  by  no  means  less  rare  in  ves 
sels  of  war  than  with  poor  human  nature  gene 
rally,  and  gave  vent  to  his  spleen  where  he 
dared. 

"  How's  this  !  Mr.  Boltrope  !"  he  cried,  "  here 
are  boats  coming  alongside  with  ladies  in  them, 
and  you  keep  your  gaft  swayed  up  till  the  leach  of 
the  sail  is  stretched  like  a  fiddle-string — settle  away 
your  peak-halyards,  sir,  settle  away  !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  grumbled  the  master ;  "  settle 
away  that  peak  there  ;  though  the  craft  wouldn't 
forge  ahead  a  knot  in  a  month,  with  all  her  gibs 
hauled  over !"  He  walked  sulkily  forward  among 
the  men,  followed  by  the  meek  divine  ;  and  added, 
"  I  should  as  soon  have  expected  to  see  Mr.  Barn- 
stable  come  off  with  a  live  ox  in  his  boat  as  a  pet 
ticoat  !  The  Lord  only  knows  what  the  ship  is 
coming  to  next,  parson  !  what  between  cocked  hats 
and  epaulettes,  and  other  knee-buckle  matters,  she 
was  a  sort  of  no-man's  land  before,  and  now,  what 


THE    PILOT.  499 

with  the  women,  and  their  ban-boxes,  they'll  make 
another  Noah's  Ark  of  her.  I  wonder  they  didn't 
all  come  aboard  in  a  coach  and  six,  or  a  one  horse 
shay  !» 

It  was  a  surprising  relief  to  Barnstable  to  be 
able  to  give  utterance  to  his  humour,  for  a  few 
moments,  by  ordering  the  men  to  make  sundry 
alterations  in  every  department  of  the  vessel,  in  a 
quick,  hurried  voice,  that  abundantly  denoted,  not 
only  the  importance  of  his  improvements,  but  the 
temper  in  which  they  were  dictated.  In  his  turn, 
however,  he  was  soon  compelled  to  give  way  by 
the  arrival  of  Griffith,  in  the  heavily-rowing  launch 
of  the  frigate,  which  was  crowded  with  a  larger 
body  of  the  seamen  who  had  been  employed  in 
the  expedition.  In  this  manner,  boat  after  boat 
speedily  arrived,  and  the  whole  party  were  once 
more  happily  embarked  in  safety,  under  their  na 
tional  flag. 

The  small  cabin  of  the  Alacrity  was  relinquished 
to  Colonel  Howard  and  his  wards,  with  their  at 
tendants.  The  boats  were  dropped  astern,  each 
protected  by  its  own  keeper  ;  and  Griffith  gave 
forth  the  mandate,  to  fill  the  sails  and  steer  broad 
off  into  the  ocean.  For  more  than  an  hour  the 
cutter  held  her  course  in  this  direction,  gliding 
gracefully  through  the  glittering  waters,  rising  and 
settling  heavily  on  the  long,  smooth  billows,  as  if 
conscious  of  the  unusual  burden  that  she  was 
doomed  to  carry ;  but  at  the  end  of  that  period, 
her  head  was  once  more  brought  near  the  wind, 
and  she  was  again  held "  at  rest,  awaiting  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  dawn,  in  order  to  discover  the  po 
sition  of  the  prouder  vessel,  on  which  she  was  per 
forming  the  humble  duty  of  a  tender.  More  than 
a  hundred  and  fifty  living  men  were  crowded  with 
in  her  narrow  limits  ;  and  her  decks  presented,  in 


500  THE    PILOT. 

the  gloom,  as  she  moved  along,  the  picture  of  a 
mass  of  human  heads. 

As  the  freedom  of  a  successful  expedition  was 
unavoidably  permitted,  loud  jokes,  and  louder 
merriment,  broke  on  the  silent  waters,  from  the 
reckless  seamen,  while  the  exhilarating  can  passed 
from  hand  to  hand,  strange  oaths,  and  dreadful 
denunciations  breaking  forth  at  times,  from  some 
of  the  excited  crew  against  their  enemy.  At 
length  the  bustle  of  re-embarking  gradually  sub 
sided,  and  many  of  the  crew  descended  to  the  hold 
of  the  cutter,  in  quest  of  room  to  stretch  their 
limbs,  when  a  clear  manly  voice  was  heard  rising 
above  the  deep  in  those  strains  that  a  seaman 
most  loves  to  hear.  Air  succeeded  air,  from  dif 
ferent  voices,  until  even  the  spirit  of  harmony 
grew  dull  with  fatigue,  and  verses  began  to  be 
heard  where  songs  were  expected,  and  fleeting 
lines  succeeded  stanzas.  The  decks  were  soon 
covered  with  prostrate  men,  seeking  their  natural 
rest,  under  the  open  heavens,  and  perhaps  dream 
ing,  as  they  yielded  heavily  to  the  rolling  of  the 
vessel,  of  scenes  of  other  times  in  their  own  hemi 
sphere.  The  dark  glances  of  Katherine  were 
concealed  beneath  her  falling  lids ;  and  even  Ce 
cilia,  with  her  head  bowed  on  the  shoulder  of  her 
cousin,  slept  sweetly  in  innocence  and  peace. 
Boltrope  groped  his  way  into  the  hold  among  the 
seamen,  where,  kicking  one  of  the  most  fortunate 
of  the  men  from  his  birth,  he  established  himself 
in  his  place,  with  all  that  cool  indifference  to  the 
other's  comfort,  that  had  grown  with  his  expe 
rience,  from  the  time  when  he  was  treated  thus  ca 
valierly  in  his  own  person,  to  the  present  moment. 
In  this  manner,  head  was  dropped  after  head,  on 
the  planks,  the  guns,  or  on  whatever  first  offered 
for  a  pillow,  until  Griffith  and  Bankable,  alone, 


THE    PILOT.  501 

were  left  pacing  the  different  sides  of  the  quarter 
deck,  in  haughty  silence. 

Never  did  a  morning  watch  appear  so  long  to 
the  two  young  sailors,  who  were  thus  deprived,  by 
resentment  and  pride,  of  that  frank  and  friendly 
communion,  that  had  for  so  many  years  sweetened 
the  tedious  hours  of  their  long,  and  at  times, 
dreary  service.  To  increase  the  embarrassment  of 
their  situation,  Cecilia  and  Katherine,  suffering 
from  the  confinement  of  the  small  and  crowded 
cabin,  sought  the  purer  air  of  the  deck,  about  the 
time  when  the  deepest  sleep  had  settled  on  the 
senses  of  the  wearied  mariners.  They  stood,  lean 
ing  against  the  taffrail,  discoursing  with  each 
other  in  low  and  broken  sentences  ;  but  a  sort  of 
instinctive  knowledge  of  the  embarrassment  which 
existed  between  their  lovers,  caused  a  guarded 
control  over  every  look  or  gesture  which  might 
be  construed  into  an  encouragement  for  one  of  the 
young  men  to  advance  at  the  expense  of  the  other. 
Twenty  times,  however,  did  the  impatient  Barn- 
stable  feel  tempted  to  throw  off  the  awkward  re 
straint,  and  approach  his  mistress ;  but  in  each 
instance  was  he  checked  by  the  secret  conscious 
ness  of  error,  as  well  as  by  that  habitual  respect 
for  superior  rank  that  forms  a  part  of  the  nature  of 
a  sea-officer.  On  the  other  hand,  Griffith  mani 
fested  no  intention  to  profit  by  this  silent  con 
cession  in  his  favour,  but  continued  to  pace  the 
short  quarter-deck,  with  strides  more  hurried  than 
ever ;  and  was  seen  to  throw  many  an  impatient 
glance  towards  that  quarter  of  the  heavens,  where 
the  first  signs  of  the  lingering  day  might  be  ex 
pected  to  appear.  At  length  Katherine,  with  a 
ready  ingenuity,  and  perhaps  with  some  secret 
coquetry,  removed  the  embarrassment,  by  speak 


;>0'>!  THE    PILOT 

ing  first,  taking  care  to  address  the  lover  of  her 


"  How  long  are  we  condemned  to  these  limited 
lodgings,  Mr.  Griffith  ?"  she  asked  ;  "  truly,  there 
is  a  freedom  in  your  nautical  customs,  which,  to 
say  the  least,  is  novel  to  us  females,  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  the  division  of  space  !" 

"  The  instant  that  there  is  light  to  discover  the 
frigate,  Miss  Plowden,"  he  answered,  "  you 
shall  be  transferred  from  a  vessel  of  an  hundred, 
to  one  of  twelve  hundred  tons.  If  your  situation 
there  be  less  comfortable,  than  when  within  the 
walls  of  St.  Ruth,  you  will  not  forget  that  they 
who  live  on  the  ocean  claim  it  as  a  merit  to  de 
spise  the  luxuries  of  the  land." 

"  At  least,  sir,"  returned  Katherine,  with  a 
sweet  grace,  which  she  well  knew  how  to  assume 
on  occasion,  "  what  we  shall  enjoy  will  be  sweet 
ened  by  liberty  and  embellished  by  a  sailor's  hos 
pitality.  To  me,  Cicily,  the  air  of  this  open  sea 
is  as  fresh  and  invigorating,  as  if  it  were  wafted 
from  our  own  distant  America  !" 

"  If  you  have  not  the  arm  of  a  patriot,  you  at 
least  possess  a  most  loyal  imagination,  Miss  Plow- 
den,"  said  Griffith,  laughing  ;  "  this  soft  breeze 
blows  in  the  direction  of  the  fens  of  Holland,  in 
stead  of  the  broad  plains  of  America.  —  Thank  God, 
there  come  the  signs  of  day,  at  last  !  unless  the 
currents  have  swept  the  ship  far  to  the  north,  we 
shall  surely  see  her  with  the  light." 

This  cheering  intelligence  drew  the  eyes  of  the 
fair  cousins  towards  the  east,  where  their  delighted 
looks  were  long  fastened,  while  they  watched  the 
dories  of  the  sun  rising  over  the  water.  As  the 
morning  had  advanced,  a  deeper  gloom  was  spread 
across  the  ocean,  and  the  stars  were  gleaming  in 


THE    PILOT.  503 

the  heavens,  like  balls  of  twinkling  fire.  But  now, 
a  streak  of  pale  light  shower]  itself  alorjg  the 
horizon,  growing  brighter,  and  widening  at  each 
moment,  until  long  fleecy  clouds  became  visible, 
where  nothing  had  been  seen  before  hut  the  dim 
base  of  the  arch  that  overhung  the  dark  waters. 
This  expanding  light,  which,  in  appearance,  might 
be  compared  to  a  silvery  opening  in  the  he;; 
was  soon  tinged  with  a  pale  flush,  which  quick 
ened  with  sudden  transitions,  into  glows  yet 
deeper,  until  a  belt  of  broad  flame  bounded  the 
water,  diffusing  itself  more  faintly  towards  the 
zenith,  where  it  melted  into  the  pearl-coloured 
sky,  or  played  on  the  fantastic  volumes  of  a  few- 
light  clouds  with  inconstant  glimmering.  While 
these  beautiful  transitions  were  still  before  the 
eyes  of  the  youthful  admirers  of  their  beauties,  a 
voice  was  heard  above  them,  crying  as  if  from  the 
heavens — 

"  Sail— ho  !  The  frigate  lies  broad  off  to  sea 
ward,  sir !" 

"  Ay,  ay  ;  you  have  been  watching  with  one 
eye  asleep,  fellow,"  returned  Griffith,  "  or  we 
should  have  heard  you  before  !  Look  a  little  north 
of  the  place  where  the  glare  of  the  sun  is  coming, 
Miss  Plowden,  and  you  will  be  able  to  see  our 
gallant  ve- 

An  involuntary  cry  of  pleasure  burst  from  the 
lips  of  Katherine,  as  she  followed  his  directions, 
and  first  beheld  the  frigate  through  the  medium  of 
the  fluctuating  colours  of  the  morning.  The  un 
dulating  outline  of  the  lazy  ocean,  which  rose  and 
fell  heavily  agaiast  the  bright  boundary  of  the 
heavens,  was  without  any  relief  to  distract  the 
eye,  as  it  fed  eagerly  on  the  beauties  of  the  solita 
ry  ship.  She  was  riding  sluggishly  on  the  long 
seas,  with  only  two  of  her  lower  and  smaller  sails 


504  THE    PILOT. 

spread,  to  hold  her  in  command  :  but  her  tall  masts 
and  heavy  yards  were  painted  against  the  fiery 
sky,  in  strong  lines  of  deep  black,  while  even  the 
smallest  cord  in  the  mazes  of  her  rigging  might  be 
distinctly  traced,  stretching  from  spar  to  spar,  with 
the  beautiful  accuracy  of  a  picture.  At  moments, 
when  her  huge  hull  rose  on  a  billow,  and  was  lift 
ed  against  the  back  ground  of  sky,  its  shape  and 
dimensions  were  brought  into  view ;  but  these 
transient  glimpses  were  soon  lost,  as  it  settled  into 
the  trough,  leaving  the  waving  spars  bowing  grace 
fully  towards  the  waters,  as  if  about  to  follow  the 
vessel  into  the  bosom  of  the  deep.  As  a  clearer 
light  gradually  stole  on  the  senses,  the  delusion  of 
colours  and  distance  vanished  together,  and  when 
a  flood  of  day  preceded  the  immediate  appearance 
of  the  sun,  the  ship  became  plainly  visible,  within 
a  mile  of  the  cutter,  her  black  hull  checkered  with 
ports,  and  her  high  tapering  masts  exhibiting  their 
proper  proportions  and  hues. 

At  the  first  cry  of  "  a  sail,"  the  crew  of  the 
Alacrity  had  been  aroused  from  their  slumbers  by 
the  shrill  whistle  of  the  boatswain,  and  long  before 
the  admiring  looks  of  the  two  cousins  had  ceased 
to  dwell  on  the  fascinating  sight  of  morning  chas 
ing  night  from  the  hemisphere,  the  cutter  was 
again  in  motion  to  join  her  consort.  It  seemed 
but  a  moment  before  then  little  vessel  was  in,  what 
the  timid  females  thought,  a  dangerous  proximity 
to  the  frigate,  under  whose  lee  she  slowly  passed, 
in  order  to  admit  of  the  following  dialogue  between 
Griffith  and  his  aged  commander : 

"  I  rejoice  to  see  you,  Mr.  Griffith !"  cried  the 
captain,  who  stood  in  the  channel  of  his  ship, 
waving  his  hat,  in  the  way  of  cordial  greeting. 
"  You  are  welcome  back,  Captain  Manual ;  wel 
come,  welcome,  all  of  you,  my  Doys  !  as  welcome 


THE    PILOT.  505 

as  a  breeze  m  the  calm  latitudes."  As  his  eye, 
however,  passed  along  the  deck  of  the  Alacrity,  it 
encountered  the  shrinking  figures  of  Cecilia  and 
Katherine,  and  a  dark  shade  of  displeasure  crossed 
his  decent  features,  while  he  added — "  How's  this, 
gentlemen  !  The  frigate  of  Congress  is  neither  a 
ball-room,  nor  a  church,  that  is  to  be  thronged 
with  women !" 

"  Ay,  ay,"  muttered  Boltrope  to  his  friend  the 
chaplain,  u  now  the  old  man  has  hauled  out  his 
mizzen,  you'll  see  him  carry  a  weather  helm  !  He 
wakes  up  about  as  often  as  the  trades  shift  their 
points,  and  that's  once  in  six  months.  But  when 
there  has  been  a  neap-tide  in  his  temper  for  any 
time,  you're  sure  to  find  it  followed  by  a  flood  with 
a  vengeance.  Let  us  hear  what  the  first  lieute 
nant  can  say  in  favour  of  his  petticoat  quality  !" 

The  blushing  sky  had  not  exhibited  a  more 
fiery  glow,  than  gleamed  in  the  fine  face  of  Griffith 
for  a  moment ;  but  struggling  with  his  disgust,  he 
answered  with  bitter  emphasis — 

"  'Twas  the  pleasure  of  Mr.  Gray,  sir,  to  bring 
off  the  prisoners." 

"  Of  Mr.  Gray  !"  repeated  the  captain,  instantly 
losing  every  trace  of  displeasure,  in  an  air  of  ac 
quiescence.  "  Come-to,  sir,  on  the  same  tack  with 
the  ship,  and  I  will  hasten  to  order  the  accommo 
dation  ladder  rigged,  to  receive  our  guests  !" 

Boltrope  listened  to  this  sudden  alteration  in  the 
language  of  his  commander,  with  sufficient  won 
der  ;  nor  was  it  until  he  had  shaken  his  head  re 
peatedly,  with  the  mariner  of  one  who  saw  deeper 
than  his  neighbours  into  a  mystery,  that  he  found 
leisure  to  observe — 

"  Now,  parson,  I  suppose  if  you  held  an  alma 
nack  in  your  fist,  you'd  think  you  could  tell  which 
way  we  shall  have  the  wind  to-morrow  !  but  damn 


506  THE    PILOT. 

me,  priest,  if  better  calculators  than  you  harn't 
failed  !  Because  a  lubberly — no,  he's  a  thorough 
seaman,  I'll  say  that  for  the  fellow ! — because  a 
pilot  chooses  to  say,  i  bring  me  off  these  here  wo 
men,'  the  ship  is  to  be  so  cluttered  with  she-cattle, 
that  a  man  will  be  obligated  to  spend  half  his  time 
in  making  his  manners !  Now  mind  what  I  tell 
you,  priest,  this  very  frolic  will  cost  Congress  the 
price  of  a  year's  wages  for  an  able  bodied  seaman, 
in  bunting  and  canvass  for  screens  ;  besides  the 
wear  and  tear  of  running-gear  in  shortening  sail, 
in  order  that  the  women  need  not  be  'stericky  in 
squalls  !" 

The  presence  of  Mr.  Boltrope  being  required, 
to  take  charge  of  the  cutter,  the  divine  was  denied 
an  opportunity  of  dissenting  from  the  opinions  of 
his  rough  companion  ;  for  the  loveliness  of  their 
novel  shipmates  had  not  failed  to  plead  loudly  in 
their  favour,  with  every  man  in  the  cutter  whose 
habits  and  ideas  had  not  become  rigidly  set  in  ob 
stinacy. 

By  the  time  the  Alaciity  was  hove-to,  with  her 
head  towards  the  frigate,  the  long  line  of  boats 
that  she  had  been  towing  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  night,  were  brought  to  her  side,  and  filled 
with  men.  A  wild  scene  of  unbridled  merriment 
and  gayety  succeeded,  while  the  seamen  were 
exchanging  the  confinement  of  the  prize  for  their 
accustomed  lodgings  in  the  ship,  during  which  the 
reins  of  discipline  were  slightly  relaxed.  Loud 
laughter  was  echoed  from  boat  to  boat,  as  they 
glided  by  each  other ;  and  rude  jests,  interlarded 
with  quaint  humours  and  strange  oaths,  were  free 
ly  bandiei  from  mouth  to  mouth.  The  noise, 
however,  soon  ceased,  and  the  passage  of  Colonel 
Howard  and  his  wards  was  then  effected,  with  less 
precipitancy,  and  due  decorum.  Captain  Munson, 


nuarr  50* 

who  had  been  holding  *  secret  dialogue  with 

nth  and  the  Pilot,  received  his  unexpected  gneste 

with  plain  hospitality,  but  with  an  evident  desire 

to  be  civiL     He  politely  yielded  to  their  service 

his  two  convenient  state-rooms,  and  invited  them 

to  partake,  in 

of  the  great  cabin. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


a  Furious  press  the  hostile  squadron, 
Furious  he  repe?«  their  rage, 
Loss  of  blood  at  length  enfeebles ; 
Who  can  war  with  thousands  wage?" 

Spanish  War  Song 


>YE  cannot  detain  the  narrative,  to  detail  the 
scenes  which  busy  wonder,  aided  by  the  relation 
of  divers  marvellous  feats,  produced  among  the 
curious  seamen  who  remained  in  the  ship,  and 
their  more  fortunate  fellows,  who  had  returned  in 
glory  from  an  expedition  to  the  land.  For  nearly 
an  hour  the  turbulence  of  a  general  movement 
was  heard,  issuing  from  the  deep  recesses  of  the 
frigate,  and  the  boisterous  sounds  of  hoarse  mer 
riment  were  listened  to  by  the  officers  in  indulgent 
silence  ;  but  all  these  symptoms  of  unbridled  hu 
mour  ceased  by  the  time  the  morning  repast 
was  ended,  when  the  regular  sea-watch  was  set, 
and  the  greater  portion  of  those  whose  duty  did 
not  require  their  presence  on  the  vessel's  deck, 
availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  repair  the 
loss  of  sleep  sustained  in  the  preceding  night- 
Still  no  preparations  were  made  to  put  the  ship  in 
motion,  though  long  and  earnest  consultations, 
which  were  supposed  to  relate  to  their  future  des- 


THE    PILOT.  509 

tiny,  were  observed  by  the  younger  officers,  to  be 
held  between  their  captain,  the  first  lieutenant,  and 
the  mysterious  Pilot.  The  latter  threw  many  an 
anxious  glance  along  the  eastern  horizon,  search 
ing  it  minutely  with  his  glass,  and  then  would  turn 
his  impatient  looks  at  the  low,  dense  bank  of  fog, 
which,  stretching  across  the  ocean  like  a  barrier 
of  cloud,  entirely  intercepted  the  view  towards 
the  south.  To  the  north  and  along  the  land,  the 
air  was  clear,  and  the  sea  without  a  spot  of  any 
kind  ;  but  in  the  east  a  small  white  sail  had  been 
discovered  since  the  opening  of  day,  which  was 
gradually  rising  above  the  water,  and  assuming  the 
appearance  of  a  vessel  of  some  size.  Every  offi 
cer  on  the  quarter-deck  in  his  turn  had  examined 
this  distant  sail,  and  had  ventured  an  opinion  on 
its  destination  and  character  ;  and  even  Katherine, 
who  with  her  cousin  was  enjoying,  in  the  open  air, 
the  novel  beauties  of  the  ocean,  had  been  tempted 
to  place  her  sparkling  eye  to  a  glass,  to  gaze  at  the 
stranger. 

"  It  is  a  collier,"  Griffith  said,  "  who  has  hauled 
from  the  land  in  the  late  gale,  and  who  is  luffing 
up  to  his  course  again.  If  the  wind  holds  here  in 
the  south,  and  he  does  not  get  into  that  fog  bank, 
we  can  stand  off  for  him  and  get  a  supply  of  fuel 
before  eight  bells  are  stnu  k." 

"  I  think  his  head  is  to  the  northward,  and  that 
he  is  steering  off  the  wind,"  returned  the  Pilot,  in 
a  musing  manner.  "  If  that  Dillon  succeeded  in 
getting  his  express  far  enough  along  the  coast,  the 
alarm  has  been  spread,  and  we  must  be  wary. 
The  convoy  of  the  Baltic  trade  is  in  the  North 
Sea,  and  news  of  our  presence  could  easily  have 
been  taken  off  to  it  by  some  of  the  cutters  that  line 
the  coast — I  could  wish  to  get  the  ship  as  far  south 
as  the  Helder !" 


510  THE    PILOT. 

"  Then  we  lose  this  weather  tide  !"  exclaimed 
the  impatient  Griffith  ;  "  surely  we  have  the  cut 
ter  as  a  look-out  !  besides,  by  beating  into  the  fog, 
we  shall  lose  the  enemy,  if  enemy  it  be,  and  it  is 
thought  meet  for  an  American  frigate  to  skulk  from 
her  foes !" 

The  scornful  expression  that  kindled  the  eye  of 
the  Pilot,  like  a  gleam  of  sunshine  lighting  for  an 
instant  some  dark  dell  and  laying  bare  its  secrets, 
was  soon  lost  in  the  usually  quiet  look  of  his 
glance,  though  he  hesitated  like  one  who  was 
struggling  with  his  passions,  before  he  answered — 

"  If  prudence  and  the  service  of  the  States  re 
quire  it,  even  this  proud  frigate  must  retreat  and 
hide  from  the  meanest  of  her  enemies.  My  ad 
vice,  Captain  Munson,  is,  that  you  make  sail,  and 
beat  the  ship  to  windward,  as  Mr.  Griffith  has  sug 
gested,  and  that  you  order  the  cutter  to  precede 
us,  keeping  more  in  with  the  land." 

The  aged  seaman,  who  evidently  suspended  his 
orders,  only  to  receive  an  intimation  of  the  other's 
pleasure,  immediately  commanded  his  youthful  as 
sistant  to  issue  the  necessary  mandates  to  put  these 
measures  in  force.  Accordingly  the  Alacrity, 
which  vessel  had  been  left  under  the  command  of 
the  junior  lieutenant  of  the  frigate,  was  quickly 
under  way  ;  and  making  short  stretches  to  wind 
ward,  she  soon  entered  the  bank  of  fog,  and  was 
lost  to  the  eye.  In  the  mean  time  the  canvass  of 
the  ship  was  loosened,  and  spread  leisurely,  in  or 
der  not  to  disturb  the  portion  of  the  crew  who 
were  sleeping,  and  following  her  little  consort,  she 
moved  heavily  through  the  water,  bearing  up  against 
the  dull  breeze. 

The  quiet  of  regular  duty  had  succeeded  to  the 
bustle  of  making  sail,  and  as  the  rays  of  the  sun 
fell  less  obliquely  on  the  distant  land,  Katherine 


THE    PILOT.  511 

and  Cecilia  were  amusing  Griffith  by  vain  attempts 
to  point  out  the  rounded  eminences  which  they 
fancied  lay  in  the  vicinity  of  the  deserted  mansion 
of  St.  Ruth.  Barnstable,  who  had  resumed  his 
former  station  in  the  frigate,  as  her  second  lieute 
nant,  was  pacing  the  opposite  side  of  the  quarter 
deck,  holding  under  his  arm  the  speaking  trumpet, 
which  denoted  that  he  held  the  temporary  control 
of  the  motions  of  the  ship,  and  inwardly  cursing 
the  restraint  that  kept  him  from  the  side  of  his 
mistress.  At  this  moment  of  universal  quiet,  when 
nothing  above  low  dialogues  interrupted  the  dash 
ing  of  the  waves  as  they  were  thrown  lazily  aside 
by  the  bows  of  the  vessel,  the  report  of  a  light 
cannon  burst  out  of  the  barrier  of  fog,  and  rolled 
by  them  on  the  breeze,  apparently  vibrating  with 
the  rising  and  sinking  of  the  waters. 

"  There  goes  the  cutter !"  exclaimed  Griffith, 
the  instant  the  sound  was  heard. 

"  Surely,"  said  the  captain,  "  Somers  is  not  so 
indiscreet  as  to  scale  his  guns,  after  the  caution  he 
has  received  !" 

"  No  idle  scaling  of  guns  is  intended  there," 
said  'he  Pilot,  straining  his  eyes  to  pierce  the  fog, 
but  soon  turning  away  in  disappointment  at  his  in 
ability  to  succeed — "  that  gun  is  shotted,  and  has 
been  fired  in  the  hurry  of  a  sudden  signal ! — can 
your  look-outs  see  nothing,  Mr.  Barnstable  ?" 

The  lieutenant  of  the  watch  hailed  the  man 
aloft,  and  demanded  if  any  thing  were  visible  in 
the  direction  of  the  wind,  aftd  received  for  answer, 
that  the  fog  intercepted  the  view  in  that  quarter 
of  the  heavens,  but  that  the  sail  in  the  east  was  a 
ship,  running  large  or  before  the  wind.  The  Pi 
lot  shook  his  head  doubtingly  at  this  information, 
but  still  he  manifested  a  strong  reluctance  to  re 
linquish  the  attempt  of  getting  more  to  the  south- 


512  THE    PILOT. 

ward.  Again  he  communed  with  the  commander 
of  the  frigate,  apart  from  all  other  ears,  and  while 
they  yet  deliberated,  a  second  report  was  heard, 
leaving  no  doubt  but  the  Alacrity  was  firing  signal 
guns  for  their  particular  attention. 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Griffith,  "  he  wishes  to  poinf 
out  his  position,  or  to  ascertain  ours ;  believing 
that  we  are  lost  like  himself  in  the  mist." 

"  We  have  our  compasses  !"  returned  the  doubt 
ing  captain ;  "  Somers  has  a  meaning  in  what  he 
says  !" 

"  See  !"  cried  Katherine,  with  girlish  delight, 
u  see,  my  cousin !  see,  Barnstable  !  how  beautiful 
ly  that  vapour  is  wreathing  itself  in  clouds  above 
the  smoky  line  of  fog !  It  stretches  already  into 
the  very  heavens  like  a  lofty  pyramid  !" 

Barnstable  sprang  lightly  on  a  gun,  as  he  le- 
peated  her  words — 

"  Pyramids  of  fog !  and  wreathing  clouds !  By 
heaven  !"  he  shouted,  "  'tis  a  tall  ship  !  Royals, 
skysails,  and  studding  sails  all  abroad  !  She  is 
within  a  mile  of  us,  and  comes  down  like  a  race 
horse,  with  a  spanking  breeze,  dead  before  it ! 
Now  know  we  why  Somers  is  speaking  in  the 
mist !" 

"  Ay,"  cried  Griffith,  a  and  there  goes  the 
Alacrity,  just  breaking  out  of  the  fog,  hovering  in 
for  the  land  !" 

"  There  is  a  mighty  hull  under  all  that  cloud 
of  Canvass,  Captain  Munson,"  said  the  observant 
but  calm  Pilot — "  it  is* time,  gentlemen,  to  edge 
away  to  leeward." 

"  What,  before  we  know  from  whom  we  run  !" 
eried  Griffith ;  "  my  life  on  it,  there  is  no  single 
ship  king  George  owns,  but  would  tire  of  the 
sport  before  she  had  played  a  full  game  of  bowls 
with — " 


THE    PILOT.  513 

The  haughty  air  of  the  young  man  was  daunted 
by  the  severe  look  he  encountered  in  the  eye  of 
the  Pilot,  and  he  suddenly  ceased,  though  in 
wardly  chafing  with  impatient  pride. 

"  The  same  eye  that  detected  the  canvass  above 
the  fog,  might  have  seen  the  flag  of  a  vice-admiral 
fluttering  still  nearer  the  heavens,"  returned  the 
collected  stranger ;  "  and  England,  faulty  as  she 
ma)i  be,  is  yet  too  generous  to  place  a  flag-officer 
in  time  of  war,  in  command  of  a  frigate,  or  a  cap 
tain  in  command  of  a  fleet.  She  knows  the  value 
of  those  who  shed  their  blood  in  her  behalf,  and 
it  is  thus  that  she  is  so  well  served  !  Believe  me, 
Capt.  Munson,  there  is  nothing  short  of  a  ship  of 
the  line  under  that  symbol  of  rank,  and  that  broad 
show  of  canvass !" 

"  We  shall  see,  sir,  we  shall  see,"  returned  the 
old  officer,  whose  manner  grew  decided,  as  the 
danger  appeared  to  thicken  ;  "  beat  to  quarters, 
Mr.  Griffith,  for  we  have  none  but  enemies  to  ex 
pect  on  this  coast." 

The  order  was  instantly  issued,  when  Griffith 
remarked,  with  a  more  temperate  zeal — 

"  If  Mr.  Gray  be  right,  we  shall  have  reason  to 
thank  God  that  we  are  so  light  of  heel  !" 

The  cry  of  "  a  strange  vessel  close  aboard  the 
frigate,"  having  already  flown  down  the  hatches, 
the  ship  was  in  an  uproar  at  the  first  tap  of  the 
drum.  The  seamen  threw  themselves  from  their 
hammocks,  and  lashing  them  rapidly  into  long, 
hard  bundles,  they  rushed  to  the  decks,  where  they 
were  dexterously  stowed  in  the  netting,  to  aid  the 
defences  of  the  uppei  part  of  the  vessel.  While 
this  tumultuous  scene  was  exhibiting,  Griffith  gave 
a  secret  order  to  Merry,  who  disappeared,  leading 
his  trembling  cousins  to  a  place  of  safety  in  the  in 
most  depths  of  the  ship. 


514  THE    PILOT 

The  guns  were  cleared  of  their  lumber,  and 
loosened.  The  bulk-heads  were  knocked  down: 
and  the  cabin  relieved  of  its  furniture,  and  the 
gun-deck  exhibited  one  unbroken  line  of  formidable 
cannon,  arranged  in  all  the  order  of  a  naval  battery 
ready  to  engage.  Arm  chests  were  thrown  open, 
and  the  decks  strewed  with  pikes,  cutlasses,  pis 
tols,  and  all  the  various  weapons  for  boarding. 
In  short,  the  yards  were  slung,  and  every  other 
arrangement  was  made  with  a  readiness  and  dex 
terity  that  were  actually  wonderful,  though  all  was 
performed  amid  an  appearance  of  disorder  and 
confusion  that  rendered  the  ship  another  Babel 
during  the  continuance  of  the  preparations.  In  a 
very  few  minutes  every  thing  was  completed,  and 
even  the  voices  of  the  men  ceased  to  be  heard  an 
swering  to  their  names,  as  they  were  mustered  at 
their  stations,  by  their  respective  officers.  Gra 
dually  the  ship  became  as  quiet  as  the  grave,  and 
when  even  Griffith  or  his  commander  found  it 
necessary  to  speak,  their  voices  were  calmer,  and 
their  tones  more  mild  than  usual.  The  course  of 
the  vessel  was  changed  to  an  oblique  line  from 
that  in  which  their  enemy  was  approaching, 
though  the  appearance  of  flight  was  to  be  studi 
ously  avoided  to  the  last  moment.  When  nothing 
further  remained  to  be  done,  every  eye  became 
fixed  on  the  enormous  pile  of  swelling  canvass 
that  was  rising,  in  cloud  over  cloud,  far  above  the 
fog,  and  which  was  manifestly  moving,  like  driv 
ing  vapour,  swiftly  to  the  north.  Presently  the 
dull,  smoky  boundary  of  the  mist  which  rested  on 
the  water,  was  pushed  aside  in  vast  volumes,  and 
the  long  taper  spars  that  projected  from  the  bow 
sprit  of  the  strange  ship,  issued  from  the  obscu 
rity,  and  were  quickly  followed  by  the  whole  ol 
the  enormous  fabric,  to  which  they  were  mere- 


THE    PILOT.  515 

ly  light  appendages.  For  a  moment,  streaks  of 
reluctant  vapour  clung  to  the  huge,  floating  pile, 
but  they  were  soon  shaken  off  by  the  rapid  vessel, 
and  the  whole  of  her  black  hull  became  distinct  to 
the  eye. 

"  One,  two,  three  rows  of  teeth  !"  said  Bolt- 
rope,  deliberately  counting  the  tiers  of  guns  that 
bristled  along  the  sides  of  the  enemy  ;  "  a  three- 
decker  !  Jack  Manly  would  show  his  stern  to 
such  a  fellow  !  and  even  the  bloody  Scotchman 
would  run  !" 

"  Hard  up  with  your  helm,  quarter-master  !" 
cried  Captain  Munson  ;  "  there  is  indeed  no  time 
to  hesitate,  with  such  an  enemy  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  !  Turn  the  hands  up,  Mr.  Griffith,  and 
pack  on  the  ship  from  her  trucks  to  her  lower  stud 
ding-sail  booms.  Be  stirring,  sir,  be  stirring  !  Hard 
up  with  your  helm  !  Hard  up,  and  be  damn'd  to 
you  !" 

The  unusual  earnestness  of  their  aged  com 
mander  acted  on  the  startled  crew  like  a  voice 
from  the  deep,  and  they  waited  not  for  the  usual 
signals  of  the  boatswain  and  drummer  to  be  given, 
before  they  broke  away  from  their  guns,  and 
rushed  tumultuously  to  aid  in  spreading  the  de 
sired  canvass.  There  was  one  minute  of  ominous 
confusion,  that,  to  an  inexperienced  eye  would 
have  foreboded  the  destruction  of  all  order  in  the 
vessel,  during  which  every  hand,  and  each  tongue, 
seemed  in  motion  ;  but  it  ended  with  opening  the 
immense  folds  of  light  duck  which  were  displayed 
along  the  whole  line  of  the  masts,  far  beyond  the 
ordinary  sails,  overshadowing  the  waters  for  a 
great  distance,  on  either  side  of  the  vessel.  Du 
ring  the  moment  of  inaction  that  succeeded  this 
sudden  exertion,  the  breeze,  which  had  brought 
up  the  three-decker,  fell  fresher  on  the  sails  of  the 


516  THE    PILOT. 

frigate,  and  she  started  away  from  her  dangerous 
enemy  with  a  very  perceptible  advantage  in  point 
of  sailing. 

"  The  fog  rises  f"  cried  Griffith  ;  "  give  us  but 
the  wind  for  an  hour,  and  we  shall  run  her  out  of 
gun-shot !" 

"  These  Ninety's  are  very  fast  off  the  wind  ;" 
returned  the  captain,  in  a  low  tone,  that  was  in 
tended   only   for   the  ear   of  his   first   lieutenant 
and  the  Pilot,  "  and  we   shall  have  a  struggle  foi 
it." 

The  quick  eye  of  the  stranger  was  glancing 
ovei  the  movements  of  his  enemy,  while  he  an 
swered — 

"  He  finds  we  have  the  heels  of  him  already ! 
he  is  making  ready,  and  we  shall  be  fortunate  tc 
escape  a  broadside  !  Let  her  yaw  a  little,  Mr. 
Griffith  ;  touch  her  lightly  with  the  helm  ;  if  we 
are  raked,  sir,  we  are  lost  !" 

The  captain  sprang  on  the  taffrail  of  his  ship 
with  the  activity  of  a  younger  man,  and  in  an  in 
stant  he  perceived  the  truth  of  the  other's  conjec 
ture. 

Both  vessels  now  ran  for  a  few  minutes,  keenly 
watching  each  other's  motions  like  two  skilful 
combatants  ;  the  English  ship  making  slight  devia 
tions  from  the  line  of  her  course,  and  then,  as  her 
movements  were  anticipated  by  the  other,  turn 
ing  as  cautiously  in  the  opposite  direction,  until  a 
sudden  and  wide  sweep  of  her  huge  bows,  told  the 
Americans  plainly  on  which  tack  to  expect  her. 
Captain  Munson  made  a  silent,  but  impressive 
gesture  with  his  arm,  as  if  the  crisis  were  too  im 
portant  for  speech,  which  indicated  to  the  watch 
ful  Griffith,  the  way  he  wished  the  frigate  sheered, 
to  avoid  the  weight  of  the  impending  danger.  Both 
vessels  whirled  swiftly  up  to  the  wind,  with  their 


THE    PILOT.  517 

heads  towards  the  land,  and  as  the  huge  black 
side  of  the  three-decker,  checkered  with  its  triple 
batteries,  frowned  full  upon  her  foe,  it  belched 
forth  a  flood  of  fire  and  smoke,  accompanied  by  a 
bellowing  roar  that  mocked  the  surly  meanings  of 
the  sleeping  ocean.  The  nerves  of  the  bravest 
man  in  the  frigate  contracted  their  fibres,  as  the 
hurricane  of  iron  hurtled  by  them,  and  each  eye 
appeared  to  gaze  in  stupid  wonder,  as  if  tracing  the 
flight  of  the  swift  engines  of  destruction.  But  the 
voice  of  Captain  Munson  was  heard  in  the  din, 
shouting  while  he  waved  his  hat  earnestly  in  the 
required  direction — 

"  Meet  her!  meet  her  with  the  helm,  boy  !  meet 
her,  Mr.  Griffith,  meet  her  !" 

Griffith  had  so  far  anticipated  this  movement,  as 
to  have  already  ordered  the  head  of  the  frigate 
turned  in  its  former  course,  when  struck  by  the 
unearthly  cry  of  the  last  tones  uttered  by  his  com 
mander,  he  bent  his  head,  and  beheld  the  venera 
ble  seaman  driven  through  the  air,  his  hat  still 
waving,  his  gray  hair  floating  in  the  wind,  and  his 
eye  set  in  the  wild  look  of  death. 

"  Great  God  !"  exclaimed  the  young  mail, 
rushing  to  the  side  of  the  ship,  where  he  was  just 
in  time  to  see  the  lifeless  body  disappear  in  the 
waters  that  were  dyed  in  its  blood ;  "  he  has 
been  struck  by  a  shot !  Lower-away  the  boat, 
lower-away  the  jolly-boat,  the  barge,  the  tiger, 
the— 

"  'Tis  useless,"  interrupted  the  calm  deep  voice 
of  the  Pilot ;  "  he  has  met  a  warrior's  end,  and  he 
sleeps  in  a  sailor's  grave  !  The  ship  is  getting  be 
fore  the  wind  again,  and  the  enemy  is  keeping  his 
vessel  away." 

The  youthful  lieutenant  was  recalled  by  these 
44 


518  THE    PILOT. 

words  to  his  duty,  and  reluctantly  turned  his  eyes 
away  from  the  bloody  spot  on  the  dark  waters, 
which  the  busy  frigate  had  already  passed,  to  re 
sume  the  command  of  the  vessel  with  a  forced 
composure. 

"  He  has  cut  some  of  our  running  gear,"  said 
the  master,  whose  eye  had  never  ceased  to  dwell 
on  the  spars  and  rigging  of  the  ship, "  and  there's 
a  splinter  out  of  the  main-top-mast,  that  is  big 
enough  for  a  fid  !  He  has  let  day -light  through  some 
of  our  canvass  too,  but  taking  it  by-and-large,  the 
squall  has  gone  over  and  little  harm  done. — 
Didn't  I  hear  something  said  of  Capt.  Munson 
getting  jamm'd  by  a  shot  ?" 

"  He  is  killed  !" — said  Griffith,  speaking  in  a 
voice  that  was  yet  husky  with  horror — "  he  if» 
dead,  sir,  and  carried  overboard  ;  there  is  more 
need  that  we  forget  not  ourselves,  in  this  crisis." 

"  Dead !"  said  Boltrope,  suspending  the  opera 
tion  of  his  active  jaws  for  a  moment,  in  surprise  ; 
"  and  buried  in  a  wet  jacket !  well,  it  is  lucky  'tis 
no  worse,  for,  damme  if  I  did  not  think  every 
stick  in  the  ship  would  have  been  cut  out  of 
her !" 

With  this  consolatory  remark  on  his  lips,  the 
master  walked  slowly  forward,  continuing  his  or 
ders  to  repair  the  damages  with  a  singleness  of 
purpose  that  rendered  him,  however  uncouth  as  a 
friend,  an  invaluable  man  in  his  station. 

Griffith  had  not  yet  brought  his  mind  to  the 
calmness  that  was  so  essential  to  discharge  the 
duties  which  had  thus  suddenly  and  awfully  de 
volved  on  him,  when  his  elbow  was  lightly  touch 
ed  by  the  Pilot,  who  had  drawn  closer  to  his 
side — 

"  The  enemy  appear  satisfied  with  tho  experi- 


THE    PILOT.  519 

ment,"  said  the  stranger,  "  and  as  we  work  the 
quicker  of  the  two,  he  loses  too  much  ground  to 
repeat  it,  if  he  be  a  true  seaman." 

"  And  yet  as  he  finds  we  leave  him  so  fast," 
returned  Griffith,  "  he  must  see  that  all  his  hopes 
rest  in  cutting  us  up  aloft.  I  dread  that  he  will 
come  by  the  wind  again,  and  lay  us  under  his 
broadside  ;  we  should  need  a  quarter  of  an  hour  to 
run  without  his  range,  if  he  were  anchored  !" 

"  He  plays  a  surer  game — see  you  not  that  the 
vessel  we  made  in  the  eastern  board  shows  the 
hull  of  a  frigate  ?  'Tis  past  a  doubt  that  they  are 
of  one  squadron,  and  that  the  expresses  have  sent 
them  in  our  wake.  The  English  admiral  has 
spread  a  broad  clew,  Mr.  Griffith,  and  as  he  ga 
thers  in  his  ships,  he  sees  that  his  game  has  been 
successful." 

The  faculties  of  Griffith  had  been  too  much  oc 
cupied  with  the  hurry  of  the  chase  to  look  at  the 
ocean  ;  but  startled  at  the  information  of  the  Pi 
lot,  who  spoke  coolly,  though  like  a  man  sensible 
of  the  existence  of  approaching  danger,  he  took 
the  glass  from  the  other,  and  with  his  own  eye  ex 
amined  the  different  vessels  in  sight.  It  is  certain 
that  the  experienced  officer,  whose  flag  wras  flying 
above  the  light  sails  of  the  three-decker,  saw  the 
critical  situation  of  his  chase,  and  reasoned  much 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  Pilot,  or  the  fearful 
expedient  apprehended  by  Griffith  wrould  have 
been  adopted.  Prudence,  however,  dictated  that 
he  should  prevent  his  enemy  from  escaping  by 
pressing  so  closely  on  his  rear,  as  to  render  it  im 
possible  for  the  American  to  haul  across  his  bows 
and  run  into  the  open  sea  between  his  own  vessel 
and  the  nearest  frigate  of  his  squadron.  The 
unpractised  reader  will  be  able  to  comprehend 
^he  case  better  by  accompanying  the  understand- 


520  THE    PILOT. 

ing  eye  of  Griffith  as  it  glanced  from  point  to 
point,  following  the  whole  horizon.  To  the  west 
lay  the  land,  along  which  the  Alacrity  was  urging 
her  way  industriously,  with  the  double  purpose 
of  keeping  her  consort  abeam,  and  of  avoiding 
a  dangerous  proximity  to  their  powerful  ene 
my.  To  the  east,  bearing  off  the  starboard  bow 
of  the  American  frigate,  was  the  vessel  first  seen, 
and  which  now  began  to  exhibit  the  hostile  ap 
pearance  of  a  ship  of  war,  steering  in  a  line  con 
verging  towards  themselves,  and  rapidly  drawing 
nigher ;  while  far  in  the  north-east,  was  a  vessel 
as  yet  faintly  discerned,  whose  evolutions  could 
not  be  mistaken  by  one  who  understood  the  move 
ments  of  nautical  warfare. 

"  We  are  hemmed  in  effectually,"  said  Griffith, 
dropping  the  glass  from  his  eye  ;  "  and  I  know  not 
but  our  wisest  course  would  be  to  haul  in  to  the 
land,  and  cutting  every  thing  light  adrift,  endea 
vour  to  pass  the  broadside  of  the  flag-ship  ?" 

"  Provided  she  left  a  rag  of  canvass  to  do  it 
with !"  returned  the  Pilot.  "  Sir,  'tis  an  idle 
hope  !  She  would  strip  your  ship  in  ten  minutes, 
to  her  plank  shears.  Had  it  not  been  for  a  lucky 
wave  on  which  so  many  of  her  shot  struck  and 
glanced  upward,  we  should  have  had  nothing  to 
boast  of  left  from  the  fire  she  has  already  given ; 
we  must  stand  on,  and  drop  the  three-decker  as 
far  as  possible." 

"  But  the  frigates  ?"  said  Griffith,  "  what  are  we 
to  do  with  the  frigates  ?" 

"  Fight  them  !"  returned  the  Pilot,  in  a  low- 
determined  voice, "  fight  them  !  Young  man,  I  have 
Dome  the  stars  and  stripes  aloft  in  greater  straits 
than  this,  and  eren  with  honour  !  Think  not  that 
my  fortune  will  desert  me  now  !" 

"  We  shall  have  an  hour  of  desperate  battle 


199 


THE    PILOT.  521 

"  On  that  we  may  calculate  ;  but  I  have  lived 
through  whole  days  of  bloodshed  !  you  seem  not 
one  to  quail  at  the  sight  of  an  enemy." 

"  Let  me  proclaim  your  name  to  the  men !" 
said  Griffith;  "'twill  quicken  their  blood,  and  at 
such  a  moment,  be  a  host  in  itself." 

"  They  want  it  not,"  returned  the  Pilot,  check 
ing  the  hasty  z-eal  of  the  other  with  his  hand.  "  1 
would  be  unnoticed,  unless  I  am  known  as  becomes 
me.  I  will  share  your  danger,  but  would  not  rob 
you  of  a  tittle  of  your  glory.  Should  we  come  to 
a  grapple,"  he  continued,  while  a  smile  of  con 
scious  pride  gleamed  across  his  face,  u  I  wrill  give 
forth  the  word  as  a  war-cry,  and,  believe  me,  these 
English  will  quail  before  it !" 

Griffith  submitted  to  the  stranger's  will,  and 
after  they  had  deliberated  further  on  the  nature  ol 
their  evolutions,  he  gave  his  attention  again  to  the 
management  of  the  vessel.  The  first  object  which 
met  his  eye  on  turning  from  the  Pilot  was  Colonel 
Howard,  pacing  the  quarter-deck  with  a  deter 
mined  brow  and  a  haughty  mien,  as  if  already  in 
the  enjoyment  of  that  triumph  which  now  seemed 
certain. 

"  I  fear,  sir,"  said  the  young  man,  approaching 
him  with  respect,  "  that  you  will  soon  find  the 
deck  unpleasant  and  dangerous :  your  wards 
are — " 

"  Mention  not  the  unworthy  term  !"  interrupted 
the  colonel.  "  What  greater  pleasure  can  there  be 
than  to  inhale  the  odour  of  loyalty  that  is  wafted 
from  yonder  floating  tower  of  the  king  ! — And  dan 
ger  !  you  know  but  little  of  old  George  Howard, 
young  man,  if  you  think  he  would  for  thousands 
miss  seeing  that  symbol  of  rebellion  levelled  be 
fore  the  flag  of  his  Majesty." 

u  If  that  be  your  wrish,  Colonel  Howard,"  re- 


522  THE    PILOT. 

turned  Griffith,  biting  his  lip  as  he  looked  around 
at  the  wondering  seamen  who  were  listeners, 
"  you  will  wait  in  vain — but  I  pledge  you  my 
word,  that  when  that  time  arrives,  you  shall  be  ad 
vised,  and  that  your  own  hands  shall  do  the  igno 
ble  deed." 

"  Edward  Griffith,  why  not  this  moment  ?  This 
is  your  moment  of  probation — submit  to  the  cle 
mency  of  the  crown,  and  yield  your  crew  to  the 
loyal  mercy  !  In  such  a  case  I  would  remember  the 
child  of  my  brother  Harry's  friend ;  and  believe 
me,  my  name  is  known  to  the  ministry.  And  you, 
misguided  and  ignorant  abettors  of  rebellion  !  cast 
aside  your  useless  weapons,  or  prepare  to  meet 
the  vengeance  of  yonder  powerful  and  victorious 
servant  of  your  prince." 

"  Fall  back  !  back  with  ye,  fellows  !"  cried  Grif 
fith,  fiercely,  to  the  men  who  were  gathering  around 
the  colonel,  with  looks  of  sullen  vengeance.  "  If 
a  man  of  you  dare  approach  him,  he  shall  be  cast 
into  the  sea." 

The  sailors  retreated  at  the  order  of  their  com 
mander  ;  but  the  elated  veteran  had  continued  to 
pace  the  deck  for  many  minutes  before  stronger  in 
terests  diverted  the  angry  glances  of  the  seamen 
to  other  objects. 

Notwithstanding  the  ship  of  the  line  was  slowly 
sinking  beneath  the  distant  waves,  and  in  less  than 
an  hour  from  the  time  she  had  fired  the  broadside, 
no  more  than  one  of  her  three  tiers  of  guns  was 
visible  from  the  deck  of  the  frigate,  she  yet  pre 
sented  an  irresistible  obstacle  against  retreat  to  the 
south.  On  the  other  hand  the  ship  first  seen, 
drew  so  nigh  as  to  render  the  glass  no  longer  ne 
cessary  in  watching  her  movements.  She  proved 
to  be  a  frigate,  though  one  so  materially  lighter 
than  the  American,  as  to  have  rendered  her  con- 


THE    PILOT.  523 

quest  easy,  had  not  her  two  consorts  continued  to 
press  on  for  the  scene  of  battle  with  such  rapidity. 
During  the  chase  the  scene  had  shifted  from  the 
point  opposite  to  St.  Ruth,  to  the  verge  of  those 
shoals  where  our  tale  commenced.  As  they  ap 
proached  the  latter,  the  smallest  of  the  English 
ships  drew  so  nigh  as  to  render  the  combat  una 
voidable.  Griffith  and  his  crew  had  not  been  idle 
in  the  intermediate  time,  but  all  the  usual  prepara 
tions  against  the  casualties  of  a  sea-fight  had  been 
duly  made,  when  the  drum  once  more  called  the 
men  to  their  quarters,  and  the  ship  was  deliberate 
ly  stripped  of  her  unnecessary  sails,  like  a  prize 
fighter  about  to  enter  the  arena,  casting  aside  the 
incumbrances  of  dress.  At  the  instant  she  gave 
this  intimation  of  her  intention  to  abandon  flight, 
and  trust  the  issue  to  the  combat,  the  nearest  Eng 
lish  frigate  also  took  in  her  light  canvass  in  token 
of  her  acceptance  of  the  challenge. 

"  He  is  but  a  little  fellow,"  said  Griffith  to  the 
Pilot,  who  hovered  at  his  elbow  with  a  sort  of  fa 
therly  interest  in  the  other's  conduct  of  the  battle, 
u  though  he  carries  a  stout  heart." 

"  We  must  crush  him  at  a  blow,"  returned  the 
stranger ;  "  not  a  shot  must  be  delivered  until  our 
yards  are  locking." 

"  I  see  him  training  his  twelves  upon  us  already; 
we  may  soon  expect  his  fire." 

"  After  standing  the  brunt  of  a  Ninety-gun- 
ship,"  observed  the  collected  Pilot,  "  we  shall  not 
shrink  from  the  broadside  of  a  Two-and-thirty." 

"  Stand  to  your  guns,  men !"  cried  Griffith, 
through  his  trumpet — "  not  a  shot  is  to  be  fired 
without  the  order." 

This  caution,  so  necessary  to  check  the  ardour 
of  the  seamen,  was  hardly  uttered,  before  their 
enemy  became  wrapped  in  sheets  of  fire  and  vo- 


524  THE    PILOT. 

lumes  of  smoke,  as  gun  after  gun  hurled  its  iron 
missiles  at  their  vessel  in  quick  succession.  Ten 
minutes  might  have  passed,  the  two  vessels  sheer 
ing  closer  to  each  other  every  foot  they  advanced, 
during  which  time  the  crew  of  the  American  were 
compelled,  by  their  commander,  to  suffer  the  fire 
of  their  adversary,  without  returning  a  shot.  This 
short  period,  which  seemed  an  age  to  the  seamen, 
was  distinguished  in  their  vessel  by  deep  silence. 
Even  the  wounded  and  dying,  who  fell  in  every 
part  of  the  ship,  stifled  their  groans,  under  the  in 
fluence  of  the  severe  discipline,  which  gave  a  cha 
racter  to  every  man  and  each  movement  of  the 
vessel,  and  those  officers  who  were  required  to 
speak,  were  heard  only  in  the  lowest  tones  of  re 
solute  preparation.  At  length  the  ship  slowly  en 
tered  the  skirts  of  the  smoke  that  enveloped  their 
enemy ;  and  Griffith  heard  the  man  who  stood  at 
his  side  whisper  the  word  "  now." 

"  Let  them  have  it !"  cried  Griffith,  in  a  voice 
that  was  heard  in  the  remotest  parts  of  the 
ship. 

The  shout  that  burst  from  the  seamen,  appeared 
to  lift  the  decks  of  the  vessel,  and  the  affrighted 
frigate  trembled  like  an  aspen,  with  the  recoil  of 
her  own  massive  artillery,  that  shot  forth  a  single 
sheet  of  flame,  the  sailors  having  disregarded,  in 
*  their  impatience,  the  usual  order  of  firing.  The 
effect  of  the  broadside  on  the  enemy  was  still  more 
dreadful,  for  a  death-like  silence  succeeded  to  the 
roar  of  the  guns,  which  was  only  broken  by  the 
shrieks  and  execrations  that  burst  from  her,  like 
the  meanings  of  the  damned.  During  the  few  mo 
ments  in  which  the  Americans  were  again  loading 
their  cannon,  and  the  English  were  recovering  from 
their  confusion,  the  vessel  of  the  former  moved 
slowly  past  her  antagonist,  and  was  already  dou- 


THE    PILOT.  525 

bling  across  her  bows,  when  the  latter  was  sud 
denly,  and,  considering  the  inequality  of  their 
forces,  it  may  be  added  desperately,  headed  into 
her  enemy.  The  two  frigates  grappled.  The 
sudden  and  furious  charge  made  by  the  English 
man,  as  he  threw  his  masses  of  daring  seamen 
along  his  bowsprit,  and  out  of  his  channels,  had 
nearly  taken  Griffith  by  surprise  ;  but  Manual,  who 
had  delivered  his  first  fire  with  the  broadside,  now 
did  good  service,  by  ordering  his  men  to  beat  back 
the  intruders,  by  a  steady  ana1  continued  discharge. 
Even  the  wary  Pilot  lost  sight  of  their  other  foes, 
in  the  high  daring  of  that  moment,  and  smiles  of 
stern  pleasure  were  exchanged  between  him  and 
Griffith,  as  both  comprehended  at  a  glance  their 
advantages. 

"  Lash  his  bowsprit  to  our  mizzen-mast,"  shout 
ed  the  lieutenant,  "  and  we  will  sweep  his  decks 
as  he  lies !" 

Twenty  men  sprang  eagerly  lorward  to  execute 
the  order,  among  the  foremost  of  wrhom  were  Bolt- 
rope  and  the  stranger. 

"  Ay,  now  he's  our  own  !"  cried  the  busy  mas 
ter,  "  and  we  will  take  an  owner's  liberties  with 
him,  and  break  him  up — for  by  the  eternal — 

"  Peace,  rude  man,"  said  the  Pilot,  in  a  voice 
of  solemn  remonstrance  ;  "  at  the  next  instant 
you  may  face  your  God  ;  mock  not  his  awful 
name  !" 

The  master  found  time,  before  he  threw  him 
self  from  the  spar  on  the  deck  of  the  frigate  again, 
to  cast  a  look  of  amazement  at  his  companion,  who, 
with  a  steady  mien,  but  with  an  eye  that  lighted 
with  a  warrior's  ardour,  viewed  the  battle  that 
raged  around  him,  like  one  who  marked  its  pro 
gress  to  control  the  result. 

The  sight  of  the  Englishmen,  rushing  onward 


526  THE    PILOT. 

with  shouts,  and  bitter  menaces,  warmed  the  blood 
of  Colonel  Howard,  who  pressed  to  the  side  of  the 
frigate,  and  encouraged  his  friends,  by  his  gestures 
and  voice,  to  come  on. 

"  Away  with  ye,  old  croaker  !"  cried  the  mas 
ter,  seizing  him  by  the  collar  ;  "  away  with  ye  to 
the  hold,  or  I'll  order  you  fired  from  a  gun." 

"  Down  with  your  arms,  rebellious  dog  !"  shout 
ed  the  colonel,  carried  beyond  himself  by  the  ar 
dour  of  the  fray  ;  "  down  to  the  dust,  and  implore 
the  mercy  of  your  injured  prince  !" 

Invigorated  by  a  momentary  glow,  the  veteran 
grappled  with  his  brawny  antagonist,  but  the  issue 
of  the  short  struggle  was  yet  suspended,  when  the 
English,  driven  back  by  the  fire  of  the  marines, 
and  the  menacing  front  that  Griffith  with  his  board 
ers  presented,  retreated  to  the  forecastle  of  their 
own  ship,  and  attempted  to  return  the  deadly 
blows  they  were  receiving,  in  their  hull,  from  the 
cannon  that  Barnstable  directed.  A  solitary  gun 
was  all  they  could  bring  to  bear  on  the  Ameri 
cans  ;  but  this,  loaded  with  cannister,  was  fired  so 
near  as  to  send  its  glaring  flame  into  the  very  faces 
of  their  enemies.  The  struggling  colonel,  who 
was  already  sinking  beneath  the  arm  of  his  foe, 
felt  the  rough  grasp  loosen  from  his  throat,  at  the 
flash,  and  the  two  combatants  sunk  powerless  on 
their  knees,  facing  each  other. 

"  How  now,  brother  !"  exclaimed  Boltrope. 
with  a  smile  of  grim  fierceness ;  "  some  of  that 
grist  has  gone  to  your  mill,  ha  !" 

No  answer  could,  however,  be  given  before  the 
yielding  forms  of  both  fell  to  the  deck,  where  they 
lay  helpless,  amid  the  din  of  the  battle  and  the 
wild  confusion  of  the  eager  combatants. 

Notwithstanding  the  furious  struggle  they  wit 
nessed,  the  elements  did  not  cease  their  functions; 


THE    PILOT.  527 

and  urged  by  ihe  breeze,  and  lifted  irresistibly  on 
a  wave,  the  American  ship  was  forced  through  the 
water  still  further  across  the  bows  of  her  enemy. 
The  idle  fastenings  of  hemp  and  iron  were  snap- 
ped  asunder,  like  strings  of  tow,  and  Griffith  saw 
his  own  ship  borne  aWay  from  the  Englishman  at 
the  instant  that  the  bowsprit  of  the  latter  was  torn 
from  its  lashings,  and  tumbled  into  the  sea,  fol 
lowed  by  spar  after  spar,  until  nothing  of  all  her 
proud  tackling  was  remaining,  but  the  few  parted 
and  useless  ropes  that  were  left  dangling  along  the 
stumps  of  her  lower  masts.  As  his  own  stately 
vessel  moved  from  the  confusion  she  had  caused, 
and  left  the  dense  cloud  of  smoke  in  which  her 
helpless  antagonist  lay,  the  eye  of  the  young  man 
glanced  anxiously  towards  the  horizon,  where 
he  now  remembered  he  had  more  foes  to  contend 
against. 

"  We  have  shaken  off  the  Thirty-two  most  hap 
pily  !"  he  said  to  the  Pilot,  who  followed  his  mo 
tions  with  singular  interest ;  "  but  here  is  another 
fellow  sheering  in  for  us,  who  shows  as  many  ports 
as  ourselves,  and  who  appears  inclined  for  a  closer 
interview  ;  besides  the  hull  of  the  Ninety  is  rising 
again,  and  I  fear  she  will  be  down  but  too  soon  !" 

"  We  must  keep  the  use  of  our  braces  and  sails," 
returned  the  Pilot,  "  and  on  no  account  close  with 
the  other  frigate — we  must  play  a  double  game, 
sir,  and  fight  this  new  adversary  with  our  heels  as 
well  as  with  our  guns." 

"  'Tis  time  then  that  we  were  busy,  for  he  is 
shortening  sail,  and  as  he  nears  so  fast  we  may  ex 
pect  to  hear  from  him  every  .minute  ;  what  do  you 
propose,  sir  ?" 

"  Let  him  gather  in  his  canvass,"  returned  the 
Pilot,  "  and  when  he  thinks  himself  snug,  we  can 
throw  out  a  hundred  men  at  once  upon  our  yards 


528  THE  PILOT. 

and  spread  every  thing  alow  and  aloft ;  we  may 
then  draw  ahead  of  him  by  surprise  ;  if  we  can 
once  get  him  in  our  wake  I  have  no  fears  of  drop 
ping  them  all." 

"  A  stern  chase  is  a  long  chase,"  cried  Griffith, 
"  and  the  thing  may  do  !  Clear  up  the  decks, 
here,  and  carry  down  the  wounded ;  and  as  we 
have  our  hands  full,  the  poor  fellows  who  have 
done  with  us,  must  go  overboard  at  once." 

This  melancholy  duty  was  instantly  attended  to. 
while  the  young  seaman  who  commanded  the  fri 
gate  returned  to  his  duty,  with  the  absorbed  air 
of  one  who  felt  its  high  responsibility.  These  oc 
cupations,  however,  did  not  prevent  his  hearing 
the  sounds  of  Barnstable's  voice  calling  eagerly  to 
young  Merry.  Bending  his  head  towards  the 
sound,  Griffith  beheld  his  friend,  looking  anxiously 
up  the  main  hatch,  with  a  face  grimed  with  smoke, 
his  coat  off,  and  his  shirt  bespattered  with  human 
blood—"  Tell  me,  boy,"  he  said,  "  is  Mr.  Griffith 
untouched  ?  They  say  that  a  shot  came  in  upon 
the  quarter-deck  that  tripped  up  the  heels  of  half 
a  dozen." 

Before  Merry  could  answer,  the  eyes  of  Barn- 
stable,  which  even  while  he  spoko  were  scanning 
the  state  of  the  vessel's  rigging,  encountered  the 
kind  looks  of  Griffith,  and  from  that  moment  per 
fect  harmony  was  restored  between  the  friends. 

"  Ah  !  you  are  there,  Griff,  and  with  a  whole 
skin,  I  see,"  cried  Barnstable,  smiling  with  plea 
sure  ;  "  they  have  passed  poor  Boltrope  down  intc 
one  of  his  own  store-rooms  !  If  that  fellow's  bow 
sprit  had  held  on  ten  minutes  longer,  what  a  mark 
I  should  have  made  on  his  face  and  eyes !" 

"  'Tis  perhaps  best  as  it  is,"  returned  Griffith  , 
"  but  what  have  you  done  with  those  whom  we 
are  most  bound  to  protect  ?" 


THE    PILOT.  529 

Bainstable  made  a  significant  gesture  towards 
the  depths  of  the  vessel  as  he  answered — 

"  On  the  cables  ;  safe  as  wood,  iron,  and  water 
can  keep  them — though  Katherine  has  had  her 
head  up  three  times  to — " 

A  summons  from  the  Pilot  drew  Griffith  away, 
and  the  young  officers  were  compelled  to  forget 
their  individual  feelings,  in  the  pressing  duties  of 
their  stations. 

The  ship  which  the  American  frigate  had  now 
to  oppose,  was  a  vessel  of  near  her  own  size  and 
equipage,  and  when  Griffith  looked  at  her  again, 
he  perceived  that  she  had  made  her  preparations 
to  assert  her  equality  in  manful  fight. 

Her  sails  had  been  gradually  reduced  to  the 
usual  quantity,  and,  by  certain  movements  on  her 
decks,  the  lieutenant  and  his  constant  attendant 
the  Pilot,  well  understood  that  she  only  wanted  to 
lessen  her  distance  a  few  hundred  yards  to  begin 
the  action. 

"  Now  spread  every  thing,"  whispered  the 
stranger. 

Griffith  applied  the  trumpet  to  his  mouth,  and 
shouted  in  a  voice  that  was  carried  even  to  his 
enemy — "  Let  fall — out  with  your  booms — sheet 
home — hoist  away  of  every  thing  !" 

The  inspiriting  cry  was  answered  by  a  univer 
sal  bustle  ;  fifty  men  flew  out  on  the  dizzy  heights 
of  the  different  spars,  while  broad  sheets  of  can 
vass  rose  as  suddenly  along  the  masts,  as  if  some 
mighty  bird  were  spreading  its  wings.  The  Eng 
lishman  instantly  perceived  his  mistake,  and  he 
answered  the  artifice  by  a  roar  of  artillery.  Grif 
fith  watched  the  effects  of  the  broadside  with  an 
absorbing  interest  as  the  shot  whistled  above  his 
head,  but  when  he  perceived  his  masts  untouched 


530  THE    PILOT. 

and  the  few  unimportant  ropes  only  that  were  cut, 
he  replied  to  the  uproar  with  a  burst  of  pleasure, 
A  few  men  were  however  seen  clinging  with  wild 
frenzy  to  the  cordage,  dropping  from  rope  to  rope 
like  wounded  birds  fluttering  through  a  tree,  until 
they  fell  heavily  into  the  ocean,  the  sullen  ship 
sweeping  by  them,  in  cold  indifference.  At  the 
next  instant  the  spars  and  masts  of  their  enemy 
exhibited  a  display  of  men  similar  to  their  own, 
when  Griffith  again  placed  the  trumpet  to  his 
mouth,  and  shouted  aloud  : 

"  Give  it  to  them  ;  drive  them  from  their  yards, 
boys ;  scatter  them  with  your  grape — unreeve 
their  rigging !" 

The  crew  of  the  American  wanted  but  little  en 
couragement  to  enter  on  this  experiment  with 
hearty  good  will,  and  the  close  of  his  cheering 
words  were  uttered  amid  the  deafening  roar  of  his 
own  cannon.  The  Pilot  had,  however,  mistaken 
the  skill  and  readiness  of  their  foe,  for  notwith 
standing  the  disadvantageous  circumstances  under 
which  the  Englishman  increased  his  sail,  the  duty 
was  steadily  and  dexterously  performed. 

The  two  ships  were  now  running  rapidly  on 
parallel  lines,  hurling  at  each  other  their  instru 
ments  of  destruction,  with  furious  industry,  and 
with  severe  and  certain  loss  to  both,  though  with 
no  manifest  advantage  in  favour  of  either.  Both 
Griffith  and  the  Pilot  witnessed  with  deep  con 
cern  this  unexpected  defeat  of  their  hopes,  for  they 
could  not  conceal  from  themselves,  that  each  mo 
ment  lessened  their  velocity  through  the  water, 
as  the  shot  of  their  enemy  stripped  the  canvass 
from  the  yards,  or  dashed  aside  the  lighter  spars 
in  their  terrible  progress. 

"  We  find  oui  equal  here  !"  said  Griffith  to  the 


THE    PILOT.  531 

stranger  "  The  Ninety  is  heaving  up  again  like 
a  mountain,  and  if  we  continue  to  shorten  sail  at 
this  rate,  she  will  soon  be  down  upon  us !" 

"  You  say  true,  sir,"  returned  the  Pilot,  mus 
ing  ;  "  the  man  shows  judgment  as  well  as  spirit ; 
but—" 

He  was  interrupted  by  Merry,  who  rushed  from 
the  forward  part  of  the  vessel,  his  whole  face  be 
tokening  the  eagerness  of  his  spirit,  and  the  im 
portance  of  his  intelligence — 

"  The  breakers !"  he  cried,  when  nigh  enough 
to  be  heard  amid  the  din  ;  "  we  are  running  dead 
on  a  ripple,  and  the  sea  is  white  not  two  hundred 
yards  ahead  ?" 

The  Pilot  jumped  on  a  gun,  and  bending  to 
catch  a  glimpse  through  the  smoke,  he  shouted, 
in  those  clear,  piercing  tones,  that  could  be  even 
heard  among  the  roaring  of  the  cannon.  "  Port, 
port  your  helm. !  we  are  on  the  Devil's  Grip  !  pass 
up  the  trumpet,  sir ;  port  your  helm,  fellow ;  give 
it  them,  boys — give  it  to  the  proud  English  dogs  !" 
Griffith  unhesitatingly  relinquished  the  symbol  of 
his  rank,  fastening  his  own  firm  look  on  the  calm 
but  quick  eye  of  the  Pilot,  and  gathering  assurance 
from  the  high  confidence  he  read  in  the  counte 
nance  of  the  stranger.  The  seamen  were  too  busy 
with  their  cannon  and  their  rigging  to  regard  the 
new  danger,  and  the  frigate  entered  one  of  the 
dangerous  passes  of  the  shoals,  in  the  heat  of  a  se 
verely  contested  battle.  The  wondering  looks 
of  a  few  of  the  older  sailors  glanced  at  the  sheets 
of  foam  that  flew  by  them,  in  doubt  whether  the 
wild  gambols  of  the  waves  were  occasioned  by  the 
shot  of  the  enemy,  when  suddenly  the  noise  of 
cannon  was  succeeded  by  the  sullen  wash  of  the 
disturbed  element,  and  presently  the  vessel  glided 
out  of  her  smoky  shroud,  and  was  boldly  steering 


532  THE    PILOT. 

in  the  centre  of  the  narrow  passages.  For  ten 
breathless  minutes  longer  the  Pilot  continued  to 
hold  an  uninterrupted  sway,  during  which  the  ves 
sel  ran  swiftly  by  ripples  and  breakers,  by  streaks 
of  foam  and  darker  passages  of  deep  water,  when 
he  threw  down  his  trumpet  and  exclaimed — 

"  What  threatened  to  be  our  destruction  has 
proved  our  salvation  ! — keep  yonder  hill  crowned 
with  wood,  one  point  open  from  the  church  tower 
at  its  base,  and  steer  east  and  by  north  ;  you  will 
run  through  these  shoals  on  that  course  in  an  hour, 
and  by  so  doing,  you  will  gain  five  leagues  of  your 
enemy,  who  will  have  to  double  their  tail." 

The  moment  he  stepped  from  the  gun,  the  Pilot 
lost  the  air  of  authority  that  had  so  singularly  dis 
tinguished  his  animated  form,  and  even  the  close 
interest  he  had  manifested  in  the  incidents  of  the 
day  became  lost  in  the  cold,  settled  reserve  he 
had  affected  during  his  intercourse  with  his  pre 
sent  associates.  Every  officer  in  the  ship,  after 
the  breathless  suspense  of  uncertainty  had  passed, 
rushed  to  those  places  where  a  view  might  be 
taken  of  their  enemies.  The  Ninety  was  still 
steering  boldly  onward,  and  had  already  ap 
proached  the  Two-and-thirty,  which  lay  a  help 
less  wreck,  rolling  on  the  unruly  seas  that  were 
rudely  tossing  her  on  their  wanton  billows.  The 
frigate  last  engaged  was  running  along  the  edge  of 
the  ripple,  with  her  torn  sails  tlying  loosely  in  the 
air,  her  ragged  spars  tottering  in  the  breeze,  and 
every  thing  above  her  hull  exhibiting  the  confu 
sion  of  a  sudden  and  unlooked-for  check  to  her 
progress.  The  exulting  taunts  and  mirthful  con- 

f-atulations  of  the  seamen,  as  they  gazed  at  the 
nglish  ships,  were,  however,  soon  forgotten  in  the 
attention  that  was  required  to   their  own  vessel. 
The  drums  beat  the  retreat,  the  guns  were  lashed 


THE    PILOT.  533 

the  wounded  again  removed,  and  every  individual 
able  to  keep  the  deck  was  required  to  lend  his  as 
sistance  in  repairing  the  damages  of  the  frigate  and 
securing  her  masts. 

The  promised  hour  carried  the  ship  safely 
through  all  the  dangers,  which  were  much  lessen 
ed  by  day-light,  and  by  the  time  the  sun  had  begun 
to  fall  over  the  land,  Griffith,  who  had  not  quitted 
the  deck  during  the  day,  beheld  his  vessel  once 
more  cleared  of  the  confusion  of  the  chase  and  bat 
tle,  and  ready  to  meet  another  foe.  At  this  period 
he  was  summoned  to  the  cabin,  at  the  request  of 
the  ship's  chaplain.  Delivering  the  charge  of  the 
frigate  to  Barnstable,  who  had  been  his  active  as 
sistant,  no  less  in  their  subsequent  labours  than  in 
the  combat,  he  hastily  divested  himself  of  the  ves 
tiges  of  the  fight,  and  proceeded  to  obey  the  re 
peated  and  earnest  call. 

45* 


CHAPTER  XXXHL 


Whither,  'midst  falling  dew, 
While  glows  the  heavens  with  the  last  steps  of  dag 
Far,  through  their  rosy  depths  dost  thou  pursue 

Thy  solitary  way  t 

Bryant 


WHEN  the  young  seaman,  who  now  commanded 
the  frigate,  descended  from  the  quarter-deck  in 
compliance  with  the  often  repeated  summons,  he 
found  the  vessel  restored  to  the  same  neatness  as 
if  nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb  its  order.  The 
gun-deck  had  been  cleansed  of  its  horrid  stains, 
and  the  smoke  of  the  fight  had  long  since  ascended 
through  the  hatches,  and  mingled  with  the  clouds 
that  flitted  above  the  ship.  As  he  walked  along  the 
silent  batteries,  even  the  urgency  of  his  visit 
could  not  prevent  him  from  glancing  his  eyes  to 
wards  the  splintered  sides,  those  terrible  Vestiges, 
by  which  the  paths  of  the  shot  of  their  enemy 
might  be  traced  ;  and  by  the  time  he  tapped  light 
ly  at  the  door  of  the  cabin,  his  quick  look  had  em 
braced  every  material  injury  the  vessel  had  sus 
tained  in  her  principal  points  of  defence.  The  door 
was  opened  by  the  surgeon  of  the  frigate,  who,  as 
he  stepped  aside  to  permit  Griffith  to  enter,  shook 
his  head  with  that  air  of  meaning,  which,  in  one  of 
his  profession,  is  understood  to  imply  the  abandon 
ment  of  all  hopes,  and  then  immediately  quitted 


THE    PILOT.  535 

the  apartment,  in  order  to  attend  to  those  who 
might  profit  by  his  services. 

The  reader  is  not  to  imagine  that  Griffith  had 
lost  sight  of  Cecilia  and  her  cousin  during  the  oc 
currences  of  that  eventful  day ;  on  the  contrary, 
his  troubled  fancy  had  presented  her  terror  and 
distress,  even  in  the  hottest  moments  of  the  fight, 
and  the  instant  that  the  crew  were  called  from 
their  guns,  he  had  issued  an  order  to  replace  the 
bulk-heads  of  the  cabin,  and  to  arrange  its  furni 
ture  for  their  accommodation,  though  the  higher 
and  imperious  duties  of  his  station  had  precluded 
his  attending  to  their  comfort  in  person.  He  ex 
pected,  therefore,  to  find  the  order  of  the  rooms 
restored,  but  he  was  by  no  means  prepared  to  en 
counter  the  scene  he  was  now  to  witness. 

Between  two  of  the  sullen  cannon,  which  gave 
such  an  air  of  singular  wildness  to  the  real  com 
fort  of  the  cabin,  was  placed  a  large  couch,  on 
which  the  Colonel  was  lying,  evidently  near  his 
end.  Cecilia  was  weeping  by  his  side,  her  dark 
ringlets  falling  in  unheeded  confusion  around  her 
pale  features,  and  sweeping  in  their  rich  exube 
rance  the  deck  on  which  she  kneeled.  Katherine 
leaned  tenderly  over  the  form  of  the  dying  vete 
ran,  while  her  dark,  tearful  eyes  seemed  to  ex 
press  self-accusation  blended  with  deep  commise 
ration.  A  few  attendants  of  both  sexes  surround 
ed  the  solemn  scene,  all  of  whom  appeared  to  be 
under  the  influence  of  the  hopeless  intelligence 
wnich  the  medical  officer  had  but  that  moment 
communicated.  The  servants  of  the  ship  had  re 
placed  the  furniture  with  a  care  that  mocked  the 
dreadful  struggle  that  so  recently  disfigured  the 
warlike  apartment,  and  the  stout,  square  frame  of 
Boltrope  occupied  the  opposite  settee,  his  head 
resting  on  the  lap  of  the  Captain's  Steward,  and 


53(5  THE    PILOT. 

his  hand  gently  held  in  the  grasp  of  his  friend  the 
Chaplain.  Griffith  had  heard  of  the  wound  of  the 
master,  but  his  own  eyes  now  conveyed  the  first 
intelligence  of  the  situation  of  Colonel  Howard, 
When  the  shock  of  this  sudden  discovery  had  a 
little  subsided,  the  young  man  approached  the 
couch  of  the  latter,  and  attempted .  to  express  his 
regret  and  pity,  in  a  voice  that  afforded  an  assu 
rance  of  his  sincerity. 

"  Say  no  more,  Edward  Griffith,"  interrupted 
the  colonel,  waving  his  hand  feebly  for  silence  ; 
"  it  seemeth  to  be  the  will  of  God  that  this  rebel 
lion  should  triumph,  and  it  is  not  for  vain  man  to 
impeach  the  acts  of  Omnipotence  !  To  my  erring 
faculties,  it  wears  an  appearance  of  mystery,  but 
doubtless  it  is  to  answer  the  purpose  of  his  own 
inscrutable  providence  !  I  have  sent  for  you,  Ed 
ward,  on  a  business  that  I  would  fain  see  accom 
plished  before  I  die,  that  it  may  not  be  said  old 
George  Howard  neglected  his  duty,  even  in  his 
last  moments.  You  see  this  weeping  child  at  my 
side  ;  tell  me,  young  man,  do  you  love  the  maid 
en  ?" 

"  Am  I  to  be  asked  such  a  question  !"  exclaim 
ed  Griffith. 

"  And  will  you  cherish  her — will  you  supply  to 
her  the  places  of  father  and  mother,  will  you  be 
come  the  fond  guardian  of  her  innocence  and 
weakness  ?" 

Griffith  could  give  no  other  answer  than  a  fer 
vent  pressure  of  the  hand  he  had  clasped. 

"  I  believe  you,"  continued  the  dying  man  ; 
"  for  however  he  may  have  forgotten  to  inculcate 
his  own  loyalty,  worthy  Hugh  Griffith  could  ne 
ver  neglect  to  make  his  son  a  man  of  honour.  I 
had  weak,  and  perhaps  evil  wishes  in  behalf  of  my 
late  unfortunate  kinsman,  Mr.  Christopher  Dillon; 


THE  PILOT.  53 y 

but  they  have  told  me  that  he  was  false  to  his 
faith.  If  this  be  true,  I  would  refuse  him  the  hand 
of  the  girl,  though  he  claimed  the  fealty  of  the 
British  realms  !  But  he  has  passed  away,  and  I  am 
about  to  follow  him  into  a  world  where  we  shall 
find  but  one  Lord  to  serve,  and  it  may  have  been 
better  for  us  both  had  we  more  remembered  our 
duty  to  Him,  while  serving  the  Princes  of  the 
earth.  One  thing  further — know  you  this  officer 
of  your  congress  well ;  this  Mr.  Barnstable  ?" 

"  I  have  sailed  with  him  for  years,"  returned 
Griffith,  "  and  can  answer  for  him  as  myself." 

The  veteran  made  an  effort  to  rise,  which  in 
part  succeeded,  and  he  fastened  on  the  youth  a 
look  of  keen  scrutiny,  that  gave  to  his  pallid  fea 
tures  an  expression  of  solemn  meaning,  as  he  con 
tinued — 

"Speak  not  now,  sir,  as  the  companion  of  his 
idle  pleasures,  .and  as  the  unthinking  associate 
commends  his  fellow,  but  remember  that  your  opi 
nion  is  given  to  a  dying  man  who  leans  on  your 
j  udgment  for  advice  The  daughter  of  John  Plow- 
den  is  a  trust  not  to  be  neglected,  nor  will  my 
death  prove  easy,  if  a  doubt  of  her  being  worthily 
bestowed  shall  remain !" 

"He  is  a  gentleman,"  returned  Griffith,  "and 
one  whose  heart  is  not  less  kind  than  gallant — he 
loves  your  ward,  and  great  as  may  be  her  merits, 
he  is  deserving  of  it  all — like  myself,  he  has  also 
loved  the  land  that  gave  him  birth,  before  the  land 
of  his  ancestors,  but — " 

"  That  is  now  forgotten,"  interrupted  the  colo 
nel  ;  "  after  what  I  have  this  day  witnessed  I  am 
forced  to  believe  that  it  is  the  pleasure  of  Heaven 
that  you  are  to  prevail !  But,  sir,  a  disobedient  in 
ferior  will  be  apt  to  make  an  unreasonable  com 
mander.  The  recent  contention  between  you — " 


538  THE    PILOT. 

"  Remember  it  not,  dear  sir,"  exclaimed  Grif 
fith  with   generous  zeal — "  'twas    unkindly  pro 
yoked,  and  it  is  already  forgotten  and  pardoned.- 
He  has  sustained  me  nobly  throughout  the  day, 
and  my  life  on  it,  that  he  knows  how  to  treat  a 
woman  as  a  brave  man  should !" 

"  Then  am  I  content !"  said  the  veteran,  sinking 
back  on  his  couch  ;  "  let  him  be  summoned." 

The  whispered  message,  which  Griffith  gave  re 
questing  Mr.  Barnstable  to  enter  the  cabin,  was 
quickly  conveyed,  and  he  had  appeared  before  his 
friend  deemed  it  discreet  to  disturb  the  reflections 
of  the  veteran  by  again  addressing  him.  When 
the  entrance  of  the  young  sailor  was  announced, 
rhe  colonel  again  roused  himself,  and  addressed 
iiis  wondering  listener,  though  in  a  manner  much 
less  confiding  and  familiar  than  that  which  he  had 
adopted  towards  Griffith. 

"  The  declarations  you  made  last  night  relative 
to  my  ward,  the  daughter  of  the  late  Captain  John 
Plowden,  sir,  have  left  me  nothing  to  learn  on  the 
subject  of  your  wishes.  Here,  then,  gentlemen, 
you  both  obtain  the  reward  of  your  attentions ! 
Let  that  reverend  divine  hear  you  pronounce  the 
marriage  vows,  while  I  have  strength  to  listen, 
that  I  may  be  a  witness  against  ye,  in  heaven, 
should  ye  forget  their  tenor  !" 

"  Not  now,  not  now,"  murmured  Cecilia ;  "  Oh 
ask  it  not  now,  my  uncle  !" 

Katherine  spoke  not,  but  deeply  touched  by  the 
tender  interest  her  guardian  manifested  in  her 
welfare,  she  bowed  her  face  to  her  bosom,  in  sub 
dued  feeling,  and  suffered  the  tears  that  had  been 
suffusing  her  eyes  to  roll  down  her  cheeks  in 
large  drops,  till  they  bathed  the  deck. 

"  Yes,  now,  my  love,"  continued  the  colonel, 
uor  I  fail  in  my  duty.  I  go  shortly  to  stand  face 


THE    PILOT.  539 

to  face  with  your  parents,  my  children ;  for  the 
man,  who  dying,  expects  not  to  meet  worthy 
Hugh  Griffith  and  honest  Jack  Plowden  in  heaven, 
can  have  no  clear  view  of  the  rewards  that  belong 
to  lives  of  faithful  service  to  the  country,  or  of  gal 
lant  loyalty  to  the  King  !  I  trust  no  one  can  just 
ly  say,  that  I  ever  forgot  the  delicacy  due  to  your 
gentle  sex ;  but  it  is  no  moment  for  idle  ceremony 
when  time  is  shortening  into  minutes,  and  heavy 
duties  remain  to  be  discharged.  I  could  not  die 
in  peace,  children,  were  I  to  leave  you  here  in  the 
wide  ocean,  I  had  almost  said  in  the  wide  world, 
without  that  protection  which  becomes  your  ten 
der  years,  and  still  more  tender  characters.  If  it 
has  pleased  God  to  remove  your  guardian,  let  his 
place  be  supplied  by  those  he  wills  to  succeed 
him  !" 

Cecilia  no  longer  hesitated,  but  she  arose  slow 
ly  from  her  knees,  and  offered  her  hand  to  Griffith 
with  an  air  of  forced  resignation,  Katherine  sub 
mitted  to  be  led  by  Barnstable  to  her  side,  and 
the  chaplain  who  had  been  an  affected  listener  to 
the  dialogue,  in  obedience  to  an  expressive  signal 
from  the  eye  of  Griffith,  opened  the  prayer  book 
from  which  he  had  been  gleaning  consolation  for 
the  dying  master,  and  commenced  reading,  in  trem 
bling  tones,  the  marriage  service.  The  vows 
were  pronounced  by  the  weeping  brides  in  voices 
more  distinct  and  audible  than  if  they  had  been 
uttered  amid  the  gay  crowds  that  usually  throng  a 
bridal ;  for  though  they  were  the  irreclaimable 
words  that  bound  them  for  ever  to  the  men,  whose 
power  over  their  feelings  they  thus  proclaimed  to 
the  world,  the  reserve  of  maiden  diffidence  was 
lost  in  one  engrossing  emotion  of  solemnity,  cre 
ated  by  the  awful  presence  in  which  they  stood. 
When  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  the  head 


540  THE    PILOT 

of  Cecilia  dropped  on  the  shoulder  of  her  husband, 
where  she  wept  violently,  for  a  moment,  and  then 
resuming  her  place  at  the  couch,  she  once  more 
knelt  at  the  side  of  her  uncle.  Katherme  received 
the  warm  kiss  of  Barnstable,  passively,  and  re 
turned  slowly  to  the  spot  whence  she  had  been 
led. 

Colonel  Howard  succeeded  in  raising  his  per 
son  to  witness  the  ceremony,  and  had  answered 
to  each  prayer  with  a  fervent  c  amen.'  He  fell 
back  with  the  last  words,  and  a  look  of  satisfaction 
shone  in  his  aged  and  pallid  features,  that  declared 
the  interest  he  had  taken  in  the  scene. 

"  I  thank  you,  my  children,"  he  at  length  ut 
tered,  "  I  thank  you,  for  1  know  how  much  you 
have  sacrificed  to  my  wishes.  You  will  find  all 
my  papers  relative  to  the  estates  of  my  wards, 
gentlemen,  in  the  hands  of  my  banker  in  London, 
and  you  will  also  find  there  my  will,  Edward,  by 
which  you  will  learn  that  Cicely  has  not  come  to 
your  arms  an  unportioned  bride.  What  my  wards 
are  in  persons  and  manners  your  eyes  can  witness, 
and  I  trust  the  vouchers  in  London  will  show  that 
I  have  not  been  an  unfaithful  steward  to  their  pe 
cuniary  affairs  '" 

"  Name  it  not — say  no  more,  or  you  will  break 
my  heart,"  cried  Katherine,  sobbing  aloud,  in  the 
violence  of  her  remorse  at  having  ever  pained  so 
true  a  friend.  "  Oh  !  talk  of  yourself,  think  of 
yourself;  we  are  unworthy — at  least  I  am  unwor 
thy  of  another  thought !" 

The  dying  man  extended  a  hand  to  her  in  kind 
ness,  and  continued,  though  his  voice  grew  feebler 
as  he  spoke — 

"  Then  to  return  to  myself— I  would  wish  to 
lie,  like  my  ancestors,  in  the  bosom  of  the  earth — 
and  in  consecrated  ground."1 


THE    PILOT.  541 

"  It  shall  be  done,"  whispered  Griffith  .  "  I  will 
see  it  done  myself." 

"  I  thank  thee,  my  son,"  said  the  veteran  ;  "  for 
such  thou  art  to  me  in  being  the  husband  of  Cicely 
— you  will  find  in  my  will,  that  I  have  liberated 
and  provided  for  all  my  slaves — except  those  un 
grateful  scoundrels  who  deserted  their  master — 
they  have  seized  their  own  freedom,  and  they 
need  not  be  indebted  to  me  for  the  same.  There 
is,  Edward,  also  an  unworthy  legacy  to  the  King  ; 
his  Majesty  will  deign  to  receive  it — from  an  old 
and  faithful  servant,  and  you  will  not  miss  the  tri 
fling  gift."  A  long  pause  followed,  as  if  he  had 
been  summing  up  the  account  of  his  earthly  duties, 
and  found  them  duly  balanced,  when  he  added, 
"  kiss  me,  Cicely — and  you,  Katherine — I  find  you 
nave  the  genuine  feelings  of  honest  Jack,  your  fa 
ther. — My  eyes  grow  dim — which  is  the  hand  of 
Griffith  ?  Young  gentleman,  I  have  given  you  all 
that  a  fond  old  man  had  to  bestow — deal  tenderly 
with  the  precious  child — we  have  not  properly  un 
derstood  each  other — I  had  mistaken  both  you  and 
Mr.  Christopher  Dillon,  I  believe  ;  perhaps  I  may 
have  also  mistaken  my  duty  to  America — but  I  was 
too  old  to  change  my  politics  or  my  religion — I — I 
— I  loved  the  King — God  bless  him — " 

His  words  became  fainter  and  fainter  as  he  pro 
ceeded,  and  the  breath  deserted  his  body  with  this 
benediction  on  his  livid  lips,  which  the  proudest 
monarch  might  covet  from  so  honest  a  man. 

The  body  Avas  instantly  borne  into  a  state-room 
by  the  attendants,  and  Griffith  and  Barnstable  sup 
ported  their  brides  into  the  after-cabin,  where  they 
left  them  seated  on  the  sofa  that  lined  the  stern  of 
the  ship,  weeping  bitterly,  in  each  other's  arms. 

No  part  of  the  preceding  scene  had  been  unob 
served  by  Boltrope,  whose  small,  hard  eyes,  were 
46 


542  THE    PILOT. 

observed  by  the  young  men  to  twinkle,  when 
they  returned  into  the  state  apartment,  and  they 
approached  their  wounded  comrade  to  apologize 
for  the  seeming  neglect  that  their  conduct  had  dis 
played. 

"  I  heard  you  were  hurt,  Boltrope,"  said  Grif 
fith,  taking  him  kindly  by  the  hand ;  "  but  as  I 
know  you  are  not  unused  to  being  marked  by  shot, 
I  trust  we  shall  soon  see  you  again  on  deck. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  returned  the  master,  "  you'll  want 
no  spy-glasses  to  see  the  old  hulk  as  you  launch  it 
into  the  sea.  I  have  had  shot,  as  you  say,  before 
now  to  tear  my  running  gear,  and  even  to  knock  a 
splinter  out  of  some  of  my  timbers,  but  this  fellow 
has  found  his  way  into  my  bread-room ;  and  the 
cruise  of  life  is  up  !" 

"  Surely  the  case  is  not  so  bad,  honest  David," 
said  Barnstable  ;  "  you  have  kept  afloat,  to  my 
knowledge,  with  a  bigger  hole  in  your  skin  than 
this  unlucky  hit  has  made  !" 

"  Ay,  ay,"  returned  the  master,  "  that  was  in 
my  upper  works,  where  the  doctor  could  get  at  it 
with  a  plug  ;  but  this  chap  has  knocked  away  the 
shifting-boards,  and  I  feel  as  if  the  whole  cargo 
was  broken  up. — You  may  say,  that  Tourniquei 
rates  me  all  the  same  as  a  dead  man,  for  after 
looking  at  the  shot-hole,  he  has  turned  me  over  to 
the  parson  here,  like  a  piece  of  old  junk  which  is 
only  fit  to  be  worked  up  into  something  new. 
Captain  Munson  had  a  lucky  time  of  it !  I  think 
you  said,  Mr.  Griffith,  that  the  old  gentleman  was 
launched  overboard  with  every  thing  standing,  and 
that  Death  made  but  one  rap  at  his  door,  before 
he  took  his  leave  !" 

"  His  end  was  indeed  sudden !"  returned  Grif 
fith  ;  "  but  it  is  what  we  seamen  must  expect." 

"  And  for  which  there   is  so  much  the  more 


THE    PILOT.  543 

occasion  to  be  prepared,"  the  chaplain  ventured  to 
add,  in  a  low,  humble,  and,  perhaps,  timid  voice. 

The  sailing-master  looked  keenly  from  one  to 
the  other  as  they  spoke,  and,  after  a  short  pause, 
he  continued  with  an  air  of  great  submission — 

"  'Twas  his  luck ;  and  I  suppose  it  is  sinful  to 
begrudge  a  man  his  lawful  luck.  As  for  being  pre 
pared,  parson,  that  is  your  business  and  not  mine  ; 
therefore,  as  there  is  but  little  time  to  spare,  why, 
the  sooner  you  set  about  it  the  better  ;  and  to  save 
unnecessary  trouble,  I  may  as  well  tell  you  not  to 
strive  to  make  too  much  of  me,  for,  I  must  own  it 
to  my  shame,  I  never  took  learning  kindly.  If  you 
can  fit  me  for  some  middling  birth  in  the  other 
world,  like  the  one  I  hold  in  this  ship,  it  will  suit 
me  as  well,  and,  perhaps,  be  easier  to  all  hands  of 
us." 

If  there  was  a  shade  of  displeasure,  blended  with 
the  surprise,  that  crossed  the  features  of  the  di 
vine  at  this  extraordinary  limitation  of  his  duties, 
it  entirely  disappeared  when  he  considered,  more 
closely,  the  perfect  expression  of  simplicity  with 
which  the  dying  master  uttered  his  wishes.  After 
a  long  and  melancholy  pause,  which  neither  Grif 
fith  nor  his  friend  felt  any  inclination  to  interrupt, 
the  chaplain  replied — 

"  It  is  not  the  province  of  man  to  determine  on 
the  degrees  of  the  merciful  dispensations  of  the 
Deity,  and  nothing  that  I  can  do,  Mr.  Boltrope, 
will  have  any  weight  in  making  up  the  mighty  and 
irrevocable  decree.  What  I  said  to  you  last  night, 
in  our  conversation  on  this  very  subject,  must  still 
be  fresh  in  your  memory,  and  there  is  no  good 
reason  why  I  should  hold  a  different  language  to 
you  now." 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  log'd  all  that  pass'd,"  re 
turned  the  master,  "  and  that  which  I  do  recollect 


544  THE    PILOT 

chiefly  fell  from  myself,  for  the  plain  reason  that  a 
man  remembers  his  own,  better  than  his  neigh 
bour's  ideas.  And  this  puts  me  in  mind,  Mr.  Grif 
fith,  to  tell  you,  that  one  of  the  forty-two's  from  the 
three-decker,  travelled  across  the  forecastle,  and 
cut  the  best  bower  within  a  fathom  of  the  clinch, 
as  handily  as  an  old  woman  would  clip  her  rotten 
yarn  with  a  pair  of  tailor's  shears  ! — If  you  will  be 
so  good  as  to  order  one  of  my  mates  to  shift  the 
cable  end-for-end,  and  make  a  new  bend  of  it,  I'll 
do  as  much  for  you  another  time." 

"  Mention  it  not,"  said  Griffith  ;  "  rest  assured 
that  every  thing  shall  be  done  for  the  security  of 
the  ship  in  your  department — I  will  superintend 
the  whole  duty  in  person  ;  and  I  would  have  you 
release  your  mind  from  all  anxiety  on  the  subject, 
to  attend  to  your  more  important  interests  else 
where." 

"  Why,"  returned  Boltrope,  with  a  little  show 
of  pertinacity,  "  I  have  an  opinion,  that  the  clean 
er  a  man  takes  hfe  hands  into  the  other  world,  of 
the  matters  of  duty  in  this,  the  better  he  will  be 
fitted  to  handle  any  thing  new. — Now  the  parson, 
here,  undertook  to  lay  down  the  doctrine  last 
night,  that  it  was  no  matter  how  well  or  how  ill  a 
man  behaved  himself,  so  that  he  squared  his  con 
science  by  the  lifts  and  braces  of  faith,  which  I  take 
to  be  a  doctrine  that  is  not  to  be  preach'd  on  ship 
board,  for  it  would  play  the  devil  with  the  best 
ship's  company  that  was  ever  mustered." 

"  Oh  !  no — no — dear  Mr.  Boltrope,  you  mis 
took  me  and  my  doctrine  altogether  !"  exclaimed 
the  chaplain  ;  "  at  least  you  mistook — ' 

"  Perhaps,  sir,"  interrupted  Griffith,  gently. 
"  our  honest  friend  will  not  be  more  fortunate 
now.  Is  there  nothing  earthly  that  hangs  upon 
your  mind,  Boltrope  f  no  wish  to  be  remembered 


THE    PILOT.  545 

to  any  one,  nor  any  bequest  to  make  of  your  pro 
perty  ?" 

"  He  has  a  mother,  I  know,"  said  Barnstable 
in  a  low  voice  ;  "  he  often  spoke  of  her  to  me  in 
the  night  watches  ;  I  think  she  must  still  be  living." 

The  master,  who  distinctly  heard  his  young 
shipmates,  continued  for  more  than  a  minute  roll 
ing  the  tobacco,  which  he  still  retained,  from  one 
side  of  his  mouth  to  the  other,  with  an  industry 
that  denoted  singular  agitation  for  the  man,  and 
raising  one  of  his  broad  hands,  with  the  other 
he  picked  the  worn  skin  from  fingers  which  were 
already  losing  their  brownish  yellow  hue  in  the 
fading  colour  of  death,  before  he  answered — 

"  Why,  yes,  the  old  woman  still  keeps  her  grip 
upon  life,  which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  her 
son  David.  The  old  man  was  lost  the  time  the 
Susan  and  Dorothy  was  wrecked  on  the  back  of 
Cape  Cod ;  you  remember  it,  Mr.  Barnstable  ?  you 
were  then  a  lad,  sailing  on  whaling  voyages  from 
the  island  !  well,  ever  since  that  gale,  I've  endea 
voured  to  make  smooth  water  for  the  old  woman 
myself,  though  she  has  had  but  a  rough  passage 
of  it,  at  the  best ;  the  voyage  of  life,  wit'h  her,  hav 
ing  been  pretty  much  crossed  by  rugged  weather 
and  short  stores." 

"  And  you  would  have  us  carry  some  message 
to  her  ?"  said  Griffith,  kindly. 

"  Why,  as  to  messages,"  continued  the  master, 
whose  voice  was  rapidly  growing  more  husky  and 
broken,  "  there  never  has  been  many  compliments 
— passed  betwreen  us,  for  the  reason — that  she  is 
not  more  used  to  receive  them — than  I  am  to  make 
them.  But  if  any  one  of  you  will  overhaul — the 
purser's  books,  and  see  what  there  is  standing  there 
— to  my  side  of  the  leaf — and  take  a  little  pains  to 
get  it  to  the  old  woman — you  will  find  her  moor'd  in 
46* 


546  THE    PILOT. 

the  lee  side  of  a  house — ay,  here  it  is,  No.  10, 
Cornhiil,  Boston.  I  took  care — to  get  her  a  good 
warm  birth,  seeing  that  a  woman  of  eighty  wants 
a  snug  anchorage — at  her  time  of  life,  if  ever." 

"  I  will  do  it  myself,  David,"  cried  Barnstable, 
struggling  to  conceal  his  emotion  ;  "  I  will  call  on 
her  the  instant  we  let  go  our  anchor  in  Boston 
harbour,  and  as  your  credit  can't  be  large,  I  will  di 
vide  my  own  purse  with  her !" 

The  sailing-master  was  powerfully  affected  by 
this  kind  offer,  the  muscles  of  his  hard  weather- 
beaten  face  working  convulsively,  and  it  was  a 
moment  before  he  could  trust  his  voice  in  reply. 

"  I  know  you  would,  Dickey,  I  know  you 
would,"  he  at  length  uttered,  grasping  the  hand  ol 
Barnstable  with  a  portion  of  his  former  strength  ; 
"  I  know  you  would  give  the  old  woman  one  of 
your  own  limbs,  if  it  would  do  a  service — to  the 
mother  of  a  messmate — which  it  would  not — see 
ing  that  I  am  not  the  son  of  a — cannibal ;  but  you 
are  out  of  your  own  father's  books,  and  it's  too  of 
ten  shoal  water  in  your  pockets  to  help  any  one 
— more  especially  since  you  have  just  been  spliced 
to  a  pretty  young  body — that  will  want  all  your 
spare  coppers." 

"  But  I  am  master  of  my  own  fortune,"  said 
Griffith,  "  and  am  rich." 

"  Ay,  ay,  I  have  heard  it  said  you  could  build 
a  frigate  and  set  her  afloat  all  a-taunt-o  without 
thrusting  your  hand — into  any  man's  purse — but 
your  own  !" 

"And  I  pledge  you  the  honour  of  a  naval  officer," 
continued  the  young  sailoi,  "  that  she  shall  want 
for  nothing ;  not  even  the  care  and  tenderness  of 
a  dutiful  son." 

Boltrope  appeared  to  be  choking;  he  made  an 
attempt  to  raise  his  exhausted  frame  on  the  couch, 


THE    PILOT.  547 

but  fell  back  exhausted  and  dying,  perhaps  a  little 
prematurely,  through  the  powerful  and  unusual 
emotions  that  were  struggling  for  utterance.  "  God 
forgive  me  my  misdeeds  !"  he  at  length  said,  "  and 
chiefly  for  ever  speaking  a  word  against  your 
disciplyne  ;  remember  the  best  bower — and  look 
to  the  slings  of  the  lower  yards — and — and — he'll 
do  it  Dicky,  he'll  do  it !  I'm  casting  off — the  fasts 
— of  life — and  so  God  bless  ye  all — and  give  ye 
good  weather — going  large — or  on  a  bowline  !" 

The  tongue  of  the  master  failed  him,  but  a  look 
of  heart-felt  satisfaction  gleamed  across  his  rough 
visage,  as  its  muscles  suddenly  contracted,  when 
the  faded  lineaments  slowly  settled  into  the  ap 
palling  stiffness  of  death. 

Griffith  directed  the  body  to  be  removed  to  the 
apartment  of  the  Master,  and  proceeded  with  a 
heavy  heart  to  the  upper  deck.  The  Alacrity  had 
been  unnoticed  during  the  arduous  chase  of  the 
frigate,  and  favoured  by  day-light,  and  her  light 
draught  of  water,  she  had  easily  effected  her  es 
cape  also  among  the  mazes  of  the  shoals.  She  was 
called  down  to  her  consort  by  signal,  and  received 
the  necessary  instructions  how  to  steer  during 
the  approaching  night.  The  British  ships  were 
now  only  to  be  faintly  discovered,  like  small  white 
specks  on  the  dark  sea,  and  as  it  was  known  that 
a  broad  barrier  of  shallow  water  lay  between  them, 
the  Americans  no  longer  regarded  their  presence 
as  at  all  dangerous. 

When  the  necessary  orders  had  been  given,  and 
the  vessels  were  fully  prepared,  they  were  once 
more  brought  up  to  the  wind,  and  their  heads  point 
ed  in  the  direction  of  the  coast  of  Holland.  The 
wind  which  freshened  towards  the  decline  of  day 
hauled  round  with  the  sun,  and  when  that  luminary 
retreated  from  the  eye,  so  rapid  had  been  the  pro- 


548  THE    PILOT. 

gress  of  the  mariners,  it  seemed  to  sink  in  the  bo 
som  of  the  ocean,  the  land  having  long  before  set 
tled  into  its  watery  bed.  All  night  the  frigate  con 
tinued  to  dash  through  the  seas  with  a  sort  of  sul 
len  silence,  that  was  soothing  to  the  melancholy 
of  Cecilia  and  Katherine,  neither  of  whom  closed 
an  eye  during  that  gloomy  period.  In  addition  to 
the  scene  they  had  witnessed,  their  feelings  were 
harrowed  by  the  knowledge  that,  in  conformity  to 
the  necessary  plans  of  Griffith,  and  in  compliance 
with  the  new  duties  he  had  assumed,  they  were 
to  separate  in  the  morning  for  an  indefinite  period, 
and  possibly  for  ever. 

With  the  appearance  of  light,  the  boatswain  sent 
his  rough  summons  through  the  vessel,  and  the 
crew  were  collected  in  solemn  silence  in  her  gang 
ways,  to  '  bury  the  dead.'  The  bodies  of  Bolt- 
rope,  of  one  or  two  of  her  inferior  officers,  and  of 
several  common  men  who  had  died  of  their  wounds 
in  the  night,  were,  with  the  usual  formalities,  com 
mitted  to  the  deep ;  when  the  yards  of  the  ship 
were  again  braced  by  the  wind,  and  she  glided 
along  the  trackless  waste,  leaving  no  memorial  in 
the  midst  of  the  ever-rolling  waters,  to  mark  the 
place  of  their  sepulture. 

When  the  sun  had  gained  the  meridian  the  ves* 
sels  were  once  more  hove-to,  and  the  prepara 
tions  were  made  for  a  final  separation.  The  body 
of  Colonel  Howard  wras  transferred  to  the  Alacri* 
ty,  whither  it  was  followed  by  Griffith  and  his 
cheerless  bride,  while  Katherine  hung  fondly  from 
a  window  of  the  ship,  suffering  her  own  scalding 
tears  to  mingle  with  the  brine  of  the  ocean.  After 
every  thing  was  arranged,  Griffith  waved  his  hand 
to  Barnstable,  who  had  now  succeeded  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  frigate,  and  the  yards  of  the  latter 
were  braced  sharp  to  the  wind,  when  she  proceed 


THE   PILOT.  549 

ed  to  the  dangerous  experiment  of  forcing  her  way 
to  the  shores  of  America,  by  attempting  the  pass 
of  the  streights  of  Dover,  and  running  the  gaunt 
let  through  the  English  ships  that  crowded  their 
own  channel ;  an  undertaking,  however,  for  which 
she  had  the  successful  example  of  the  Alliance  fri 
gate,  which  had  borne  the  stars  of  America  along  the 
same  hazardous  path  but  a  few  months  previously. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  Alacrity,  steering  more  to 
the  west,  drew  in  swiftly  towards  the  shores  of 
Holland,  and  about  an  hour  before  the  setting  of 
the  sun,  had  approached  so  nigh  as  to  be  once  more 
hove  into  the  wind,  in  obedience  to  the  mandate 
of  Griffith.  A  small  light  boat  was  lowered  into 
the  sea,  when  the  young  sailor,  and  the  pilot,  who 
had  found  his  way  into  the  cutter  unheeded,  and 
almost  unseen,  ascended  from  the  small  cabin  to 
gether.  The  stranger  glanced  his  eyes  along  the 
range  of  coast,  as  if  he  would  ascertain  the  exact 
position  of  the  vessel,  and  then  turned  them  on  the 
sea  and  the  western  horizon  to  scan  the  weather. 
Finding  nothing  in  the  appearance  of  the  latter  to 
induce  him  to  change  his  determination,  he  offered 
his  hand  frankly  to  Griffith,  and  said — 

"  Here  we  part.  As  our  acquaintance  has  not 
led  to  all  we  wished,  let  it  be  your  task,  sir,  to  for 
get  we  ever  met." 

Griffith  bowed  respectfully,  but  in  silence,  when 
th§  other  continued,  shaking  his  hand  contemptu 
ously  towards  the  land — 

"  Had  I  but  a  moiety  of  the  navy  of  that  dege 
nerate  republic,  the  proudest  among  those  haughty 
islanders  should  tremble  in  his  castle,  and  be  made 
to  feel  there  is  no  security  against  a  foe  that  trusts 
his  own  strength  and  knows  the  weakness  of  his 
enemy  1  But,"  he  muttered  in  a  lower  and  more 
hurried  voice,  u  this  has  been  like  Liverpool,  and 


650  THE  PILOT. 

— Whitehaven — and  Edinburgh,  and  fifty  more  I 
it  is  past,  sir ;  let  it  be  forgotten." 

Without  heeding  the  wondering  crew,  who  were 
collected  as  curious  spectators  of  his  departure,  the 
stranger  bowed  hastily  to  Griffith,  and  springing 
into  the  boat,  he  spread  her  light  sail  with  the  rea 
diness  of  one  who  had  nothing  to  learn  even  in 
the  smallest  matters  of  his  daring  profession.  Once 
more,  as  the  boat  moved  briskly  away  from  the 
cutter,  he  waved  his  hand  in  adieu,  and  Griffith 
fancied,  that  even  through  the  distance  he  could 
trace  a  smile  of  bitter  resignation,  lighting  his  calm 
features  with  a  momentary  gleam.  For  a  long  time 
the  young  man  stood  an  abstracted  gazer  at  his  so 
litary  progress,  watching  the  small  boat  as  it  glided 
towards  the  open  ocean,  nor  did  he  remember  to 
order  the  head  sheets  of  the  Alacrity  drawn,  in  or 
der  to  put  the  vessel  again  in  motion,  until  the 
dark  speck  was  lost  in  the  strong  glare  that  fell 
obliquely  across  the  water  from  the  setting  sun. 

Many  wild  and  extraordinary  conjectures  were 
uttered  among  the  crew  of  the  cutter,  as  she  slow 
ly  drew  in  towards  her  friendly  haven,  on  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  mysterious  pilot,  during  their  late 
hazardous  visit  to  the  coast  of  Britain,  and  on  his 
still  more  extraordinary  disappearance,  as  it  were, 
amid  the  stormy  wastes  of  the  North  sea.  Griffith 
himself  was  not  observed  to  smile,  nor  to  manifest 
any  other  evidence  of  his  being  a  listener  to  thair 
rude  discourse,  until  it  was  loudly  announced  that 
a  small  boat  was  seen  pressing  for  their  own  har 
bour,  across  the  fore  foot  of  the  cutter,  under  a  sin 
gle  lug-sail.  Then,  indeed,  the  sudden  and  cheer 
ful  lighting  of  his  troubled  eye  might  have  be 
trayed,  to  more  accurate  observers,  the  vast  relief 
that  was  imparted  to  his  feelings  by  the  interesting 
discovery. 


CHAPTEE  XXXIY. 

Come  all  you  kindred  chieftains  of  the  deep ! 
In  mighty  phalanx  round  your  brother  bend ; 
Hush  every  murmur  that  invades  his  sleep — 
And  guard  the  laurels  that  o'ershade  your  friend. 
Lines  on  Tripp. 

HERE,  perhaps,  it  would  be  wise  to  suffer  the 
curtain  of  our  imperfect  drama  to  fall  before  the 
reader,  trusting  that  the  imagination  of  every  indi 
vidual  can  readily  supply  the  due  proportions  of 
health,  wealth,  and  happiness,  that  the  rigid  rules 
of  poetic  justice  would  award  to  the  different 
characters  of  the  legend.  But  as  we  are  not  dis 
posed  to  part  so  coldly  from  those  with  whom  we 
nave  long  held  amicable  intercourse,  and  as  there 
is  no  portion  of  that  in  reservation  which  is  not 
quite  as  true  as  all  that  has  been  already  related, 
we  see  no  unanswerable  reason  for  dismissing  the 
dramatis  personae  so  abruptly.  We  shall  therefore 
proceed  to  state  briefly,  the  outlines  of  that  which 
befel  them  in  after  life,  regretting,  at  the  same 
time,  that  the  legitimate  limits  of  a  modern  tale 
will  not  admit  of  such  a  dilatation  of  many  a  merry 
or  striking  scene,  as  might  create  the  pleasing 
hope  of  beholding  hereafter  some  more  of  our 
rude  sketches  quickened  into  life  by  the  spirited 
pencil  of  Dunlap. 

Following  the  course  of  the  frigate,  then,  to- 


652  THE   PILOT. 

wards  those  shores,  from  which,  perhaps,  we  should 
never  have  suffered  our  truant  pen  to  have  wander 
ed,  we  shall  commence  the  brief  task  with  Barn- 
stable,  and  his  laughing,  weeping,  gay,  but  affec 
tionate,  bride — the  black-eyed  Katherine.  The 
ship  fought  her  way,  gallantly,  through  swarms  of 
the  enemy's  cruisers,  to  the  port  of  Boston,  where 
Barnstable  was  rewarded  for  his  services  by  pro 
motion,  and  a  more  regular  authority  to  command 
his  vessel. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  war,  he  continued 
to  fill  that  station  with  ability  and  zeal,  nor  did  he 
return  to  the  dwelling  of  his  fathers,  which  he  soon 
inherited,  by  regular  descent,  until  after  peace 
had  established  not  only  the  independence  of  his 
country,  but  his  own  reputation,  as  a  brave  and 
successful  sea-officer.  When  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  laid  the  foundation  of  its  present  navy,  Cap 
tain  Barnstable  was  once  more  tempted  by  the 
offer  of  a  new  commission  to  desert  his  home ;  and 
for  many  years  he  was  employed  among  that  band 
of  gallant  seamen  who  served  their  county  so 
faithfully  in  times  of  trial  and  high  daring.  Hap 
pily,  however,  he  was  enabled  to  accomplish  a 
great  deal  of  the  more  peaceful  part  of  his  service 
accompanied  by  Katherine,  who,  having  no  chil 
dren,  eagerly  profited  by  his  consent  to  share  his 
privations  and  hardships  on  the  ocean.  In  this 
manner  they  passed  merrily,  and  we  trust  happily, 
down  the  vale  of  life  together,  Katherine  entirely 
discrediting  the  ironical  prediction  of  her  former 
guardian,  by  making,  every  thing  considered,  a 
very  obedient,  and  certainly,  so  far  as  attachment 
was  concerned,  a  most  devoted  wife. 

The  boy  Merry,  who  in  due  time  became  a 
man,  clung  to  Barnstable  and  Katherine,  so  long 
as  it  was  necessary  to  hold  him  in  leading  strings ; 


THE   PILOT.  553 

and  when  he  received  his  regular  promotion,  his 
first  command  was  under  the  shadow  of  his  kins 
man's  broad  pendant.  He  proved  to  be  in  his 
meridian,  what  his  youth  had  so  strongly  indicated, 
a  fearless,  active,  and  reckless  sailor,  and  his  years 
might  have  extended  to  this  hour,  had  he  not 
fallen  untimely  in  a  duel  with  a  foreieni  officer. 

The  first  act  of  Captain  Manual  after  landing 
once  more  on  his  native  soil,  was  <•  _,  make  interest 
to  be  again  restored  to  the  line  of  the  army.  He 
encountered  but  little  difficulty  in  this  attempt, 
and  was  soon  in  possession  of  the  complete  enjoy 
ment  of  that  which  his  soul  had  so  long  pined  after, 
"  a  steady  drill."  He  was  in  time  to  share  in  all 
the  splendid  successes  which  terminated  the  war, 
and  also  to  participate  in  his  due  proportion  of  the 
misery  of  the  army.  His  merits  were  not  forgot 
ten,  however,  in  the  reorganization  of  the  forces, 
and  he  followed  both  St.  Glair  and  his  more  fortu 
nate  successor,  Wayne,  in  the  western  campaigns. 
About  the  close  of  the  century,  when  the  British 
made  their  tardy  reli  nquishment  of  the  line  of  posts 
along  the  frontiers,  Captain  Manual  was  ordered 
to  take  charge,  with  his  company,  of  a  small  stock 
ade  on  our  side  of  one  of  those  mighty  rivers  that 
sets  bounds  to  the  territories  of  the  Kepublic  in  the 
north.  The  British  flag  was  waving  over  the 
ramparts  of  a  more  regular  fortress,  that  had  been 
recently  built,  directly  opposite,  within  the  new 
lines  of  the  Canadas.  Manual  was  not  a  man  to 
neglect  the  observances  of  military  etiquette,  and 
understanding  that  the  neighbouring  fort  was  com 
manded  by  a  field  officer,  he  did  not  fail  to  wait  on 
that  gentleman,  in  proper  time,  with  a  view  to 
cultivate  the  sort  of  acquaintance  that  their  mu 
tual  situations  would  render  not  only  agreeable, 
but  highly  convenient.  The  American  martinet 
47 


554  THE   PILOT. 

in  ascertaining  the  rank  of  the  other,  had  not 
deemed  it  at  all  necessary  to  ask  his  name,  but 
when  the  red-faced,  comical-looking  officer  with 
one  leg,  who  met  him,  was  introduced  as  Major 
BorroughclifFe,  he  had  not  the  least  difficulty  in 
recalling  to  recollection  his  quondam  acquaintance 
of  St.  Ruth.  The  intercourse  between  these  wor 
thies  was  renewed  with  remarkable  gusto,  and  at 
length  arrived  to  so  regular  a  pass,  that  a  log  cabin 
was  erected  on  one  of  the  islands  in  the  river,  as  a 
sort  of  neutral  territory,  where  their  feastings  and 
revels  might  be  held  without  any  scandal  to  the 
discipline  of  their  respective  garrisons.  Here  the 
qualities  of  many  a  saddle  of  savory  venison  were 
discussed,  together  with  those  of  sundry  pleasant 
fowls,  as  well  as  of  divers  strange  beasts  that  in 
habit  those  western  wilds,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
the  secret  places  of  the  broad  river  were  vexed, 
that  nothing  might  be  wanting  that  could  contribute 
to  the  pleasures  of  their  banquets.  A  most  equita 
ble  levy  was  regularly  made  on  their  respective 
pockets,  to  sustain  the  foreign  expenses  of  this  ami 
cable  warfare,  and  a  suitable  division  of  labour  was 
also  imposed  on  the  two  Commandants,  in  order 
to  procure  such  articles  of  comfort  as  were  only  to 
be  obtained  from  those  portions  of  the  globe  where 
the  art  of  man  had  made  a  nearer  approach  to  the 
bounties  of  nature  than  in  the  vicinity  of  their 
fortifications.  All  liquids  in  which  malt  formed  an 
ingredient,  as  well  as  the  deep- coloured  wines  of 
Oporto,  were  suffered  to  enter  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law 
rence,  and  were  made  to  find  their  way,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Borroughcliffe,  to  their  destined 
goal ;  but  Manual  was,  solely,  entrusted  with  the 
more  important  duty  of  providing  the  generous  li 
quor  of  Madeira,  without  any  other  restriction  on 
his  judgment,  than  an  occasional  injunction  from 


THE   PILOT.  555 

his  coadjutor,  that  it  should  not  fail  to  be  the  pro 
duct  of  the  "  South-side !" 

It  was  not  unusual  for  the  younger  officers  of  ths 
two  garrisons  to  allude  to  the  battle  in  which  Ma 
jor  Borroughcliffe  had  lost  his  limb — the  English 
ensign  invariably  whispering  to  the  American  on 
such  occasions,  that  it  occurred  during  the  late 
contest,  in  a  desperate  affair  on  the  North  Eastern 
coast  of  their  island,  in  which  the  major  command 
ant  in  behalf  of  his  country,  with  great  credit  and 
signal  success ;  and  for  which  service  he  obtained 
his  present  rank  "  without  purchase !"  A  sort  of 
national  courtesy  prevented  the  two  veterans,  for 
by  this  time  both  had  earned  that  honourable  title, 
from  participating  at  all  in  these  delicate  allusions ; 
though  whenever,  by  any  accident,  they  occurred 
near  the  termination  of  the  revels,  Borroughcliffe 
would  so  far  betray  his  consciousness  of  what  was 
passing,  as  to  favour  his  American  friend  with  a 
leer  of  singular  significance,  which  generally  pro 
duced  in  the  other  that  sort  of  dull  recollection, 
which  all  actors  and  painters  endeavour  to  repre 
sent  by  scratching  the  head.  In  this  manner  year 
after  year  rolled  by,  the  most  perfect  harmony  ex 
isting  between  the  two  posts,  notwithstanding  the 
angry  passions  that  disturbed  their  respective 
countries,  when  an  end  was  suddenly  put  to  the 
intercourse  by  the  unfortunate  death  of  Manual. 
This  rigid  observer  of  discipline  never  trusted  his 
person  on  the  neutral  island  without  being  accom 
panied  by  a  party  of  his  warriors,  who  were  post 
ed  as  a  regular  picket,  sustaining  a  suitable  line  of 
sentries ;  a  practice  which  he  also  recommended 
to  his  friend,  as  being  highly  conducive  to  disci 
pline,  as  well  as  a  salutary  caution  against  a  sur 
prise  on  the  part  of  either  garrison.  The  major, 
however,  dispensed  with  the  formality  in  his  own 


556  THE   PILOT. 

behalf,  but  was  sufficiently  good-natured  to  wink 
at  the  want  of  confidence  it  betrayed  in  his  boon 
companion.  On  one  unhappy  occasion,  when  the 
discussions  of  a  new  importation  had  made  a  heavy 
inroad  on  the  morning,  Manual  left  the  hut  to  make 
his  way  towards  his  picket,  in  such  a  state  of  ut 
ter  mental  aberration,  as  to  forget  the  countersign 
when  challenged  by  a  sentinel,  when,  unhappily, 
he  met  his  death  by  a  shot  from  a  soldier,  whom 
he  drilled  to  such  an  exquisite  state  of  insensibi 
lity,  that  the  man  cared  but  little  whether  he  kill 
ed  friend  or  enemy,  so  long  as  he  kept  within 
military  usage,  and  the  hallowed  limits  established 
by  the  articles  of  war.  He  lived  long  enough, 
however,  to  commend  the  fellow  for  the  deed,  and 
died  while  delivering  an  eulogium  to  Borrough- 
cliffe  on  the  high  state  of  perfection  to  which  he 
had  brought  his  command ! 

About  a  year  before  this  melancholy  event,  a 
quarter  cask  of  wine  had  been  duly  ordered  from 
the  South  side  of  the  island  of  Madeira,  which 
was,  at  the  death  of  Manual,  toiling  its  weary  wa;y 
up  the  rapids  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Ohio . 
having  been  made  to  enter  by  the  port  of  New- 
Orleans,  with  the  intention  of  keeping  it  as  long 
as  possible  under  a  genial  sun !  The  untimely 
fate  of  his  friend  imposed  on  Borroughcliife  the 
necessity  of  attending  to  this  precious  relick  of 
their  mutual  tastes;  and  he  procured  a  leave 
of  absence  from  his  superior,  with  the  laudable 
desire  to  proceed  down  the  streams  and  superin 
tend  its  farther  advance  in  person.  The  result 
of  his  zeal  was  a  high  fever,  that  set  in  the  day 
after  he  reached  his  treasure,  and  as  the  doctor 
and  the  major  espoused  different  theories,  in 
treating  a  disorder  so  dangerous  in  that  climate  ; 
the  one  advising  abstemiousness,  and  the  other  ad- 


THE   PILOT.  557 

ministering  repeated  draughts  of  the  cordial  that 
had  drawn  him.  so  far  from  home,  the  disease  was 
left  to  act  its  pleasure.  Borroughcliffe  died  in 
three  days ;  and  was  carried  back  and  interred  by 
the  side  of  his  friend,  in  the  very  hut  which  had 
so  often  resounded  with  their  humours  and  festi 
vities  !  We  have  been  thus  particular  in  relating 
the  sequel  of  the  lives  of  these  rival  chieftains,  be 
cause,  from  their  want  of  connexion  with  any  kind 
heart  of  the  other  sex,  no  widows  and  orphans 
were  left  to  lament  their  several  ends,  and  further 
more,  as  they  were  both  mortal,  and  might  be  ex 
pected  to  die  at  a  suitable  period,  and  yet  did  not 
terminate  their  career  until  each  had  attained  the 
mature  age  of  three-score,  the  reader  can  find  no 
just  grounds  of  dissatisfaction  at  being  allowed 
this  deep  glance  into  the  womb  of  fate. 

The  chaplain  abandoned  the  seas  in  time  to  re 
trieve  his  character,  a  circumstance  which  gave 
no  little  satisfaction  to  Katherine,  who  occasion 
ally  annoyed  her  worthy  husband  on  the  subject 
of  the  informality  of  their  marriage. 

Griffith  and  his  mourning  bride  conveyed  the 
body  of  Colonel  Howard  in  safety  to  one  of  the 
principal  towns  in  Holland,  where  it  was  respect 
fully  and  sorrowfully  interred;  after  which  the 
young  man  removed  to  Paris,  with  the  view  of  eras 
ing  the  sad  images,  which  the  hurried  and  melan 
choly  events  of  the  few  preceding  days  had  left  on 
the  mind  of  his  lovely  companion.  From  this  place 
Cecilia  held  communion,  by  letter,  with  her  friend 
Alice  Dunscombe,  and  such  suitable  provision  was 
made  in  the  affairs  of  her  late  uncle  as  the  times 
would  permit.  Afterwards,  when  Griffith  obtained 
the  command  which  had  been  offered  him,  before 
sailing  on  the  cruise  in  the  North  Sea,  they  re- 
47* 


558  THE  PILOT. 

turned  together  to  America.  The  young  man 
continued  a  sailor  until  the  close  of  the  year, 
when  he  entirely  withdrew  from  the  ocean,  and 
devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  the  conjoint 
duties  of  a  husband  and  a  good  citizen. 

As  it  was  easy  to  reclaim  the  estates  of  Colonel 
Howard,  which,  in  fact,  had  been  abandoned  moro 
from  pride  than  necessity,  and  which  had  never 
been  confiscated,  their  joint  inheritances  made  the 
young  couple  extremely  affluent,  and  we  shall  here 
take  occasion  to  say,  that  Griffith  remembered  his 
promise  to  the  dying  master,  and  saw  such  a  pro 
vision  made  for  the  childless  mother,  as  her  situa 
tion  and  his  character  required. 

It  might  have  been  some  twelve  years  after  the 
short  cruise,  which  it  has  been  our  task  to  record 
in  these  volumes,  that  Griffith,  who  was  running 
his  eyes  carelessly  over  a  file  of  newspapers,  was 
observed  by  his  wife  to  drop  the  bundle  from  be 
fore  his  face,  and  pass  his  hand  slowly  across  his 
brow,  like  a  man  who  had  been  suddenly  struck 
with  renewed  impressions  of  some  former  event, 
or  who  was  endeavouring  to  recall  to  his  mind 
images  that  had  long  since  faded. 

"  See  you  any  thing  in  that  paper  to  disturb 
you,  -  Griffith  ?"  said  the  still  lovely  Cecilia.  "  I 
hope  that  now  we  have  our  confederate  govern 
ment,  the  States  will  soon  recover  from  their  loss 
es — but  it  is  one  of  those  plans  to  create  a  new 
navy,  that  has  met  your  eye !  Ah !  truant !  you 
sigh  to  become  a  wanderer  again,  and  pine  after 
your  beloved  ocean  1" 

"  I  have  ceased  sighing  and  pining  since  you 
have  begun  to  smile,"  he  returned,  with  a  vacant 
manner,  and  without  removing  his  hand  from  his 
brow. 


THE  PILOT.  559 

"  Is  not  the  new  order  of  things,  then,  likely  to 
succeed  ?  Does  the  Congress  enter  into  contention 
with  the  President  ?" 

"  The  wisdom  and  name  of  "Washington  will 
smooth  the  way  for  the  experiment,  until  time 
shall  mature  the  system.  Cecilia,  do  you  remem 
ber  the  man  who  accompanied  Manual  and  myseli 
to  St.  Kuth,  the  night  we  became  your  uncle's  pri 
soners,  and  who  afterwards  led  the  party  which 
liberated  us,  and  rescued  Barnstable  ?" 

"  Surely  I  do ;  he  was  the  pilot  of  your  ship,  it 
was  then  said ;  and  I  remember  th*>  shrewd  sol 
dier  we  entertained  even  suspected  that  he  was 
one  greater  than  he  seemed." 

"  The  soldier  surmised  the  truth:  but  you  sa\r 
him  not  on  that  fearful  night,  when  he  carried  us 
through  the  shoals !  and  you  could  not  witness  the 
calm  courage  with  which  he  guided  the  ship  into- 
those  very  channels  again,  while  the  confusion  of 
battle  was  among  us !" 

"  I  heard  the  dreadful  din !  And  I  can  easily 
imagine  the  horrid  scene,"  returned  his  wife,  her 
recollections  chasing  the  colour  from  her  cheeks 
even  at  that  distance  of  time ;  "  but  what  of  him  ? 
is  his  name  mentioned  in  those  papers  ?  Ah  !  they 
are  English  prints  !  you  called  his  name  Gray,  if 
I  remember  ?" 

.  "  That  was  the  name  he  bore  with  us!  he  was 
a  man  who  had  formed  romantic  notions  of  glory, 
and  wished  every  thing  concealed  in  which  he  act 
ed  a  part  that  he  thought  would  not  contribute  to 
his  renown.  It  has  been,  therefore,  in  compliance 
with  a  solemn  promise  made  at  the  time,  that  I 
have  ever  avoided  mentioning  his  name — he  is 
now  dead  1" 

"  Can  there  have  been  any  connexion  between 
him  and  Alice  Dunscoinbe?"  said  Cecilia,  drop- 


560  THE  PILOT. 

ping  her  work  in  her  lap,  in  a  thoughtful  manner. 
"  She  met  him  alone  at  her  own  urgent  request, 
the  night  Katherine  and  myself  saw  you  in  your 
confinement,  and  even  then  my  cousin  whispered 
that  they  were  acquainted !  The  letter  I  received 
yesterday,  from  Alice,  was  sealed  with  black,  and 
1  was  pained  with  the  melancholy,  though  gentle 
manner,  in  which  she  wrote  of  passing  from  this 
world  into  another !" 

Griffith  glanced  his  eye  at  his  wife,  with  a  look 
of  sudden  intelligence,  and  then. answered  like  one 
who  began  to  see  with  the  advantages  of  a  clearer 
atmosphere. 

"  Cecilia,  your  conjecture  is  surely  true  !  Fifty 
things  rush  to  my  head  at  that  one  surmise — his 
acquaintance  with  that  particular  spot — his  early 
life — his  expedition — his  knowledge  of  the  abbey, 
all  confirm  it !  He,  altogether,  was  indeed  a  man 
of  marked  character !" 

"  Why  has  he  not  been  among  us  ?"  asked  Ce 
cilia  ;  "  he  appeared  devoted  to  our  cause." 

"  His  devotion  to  America  proceeded  from  de 
sire  of  distinction,  his  ruling  passion,  and  perhaps 
a  little  also  from  resentment  at  some  injustice 
which  he  claimed  to  have  suffered  from  his  own 
countrymen.  He  was  a  man,  and  not  therefore 
without  foibles — among  which  may  have  been 
reckoned  the  estimation  of  his  own  acts  ;  but  they 
were  most  daring,  and  deserving  of  praise !  nei 
ther  did  he  at  all  merit  the  obloquy  that  he  re 
ceived  from  his  enemies.  His  love  of  liberty  may 
be  more  questionable;  for  if  he  commenced  his 
deeds  in  the  cause  of  these  free  States,  they  ter 
minated  in  the  service  of  a  despot !  He  is  now 
dead — 'but  had  he  lived  in  times  and  under  circum 
stances,  when  his  consummate  knowledge  of  his 
profession,  his  cool,  deliberate,  and  even  desperate 


THE  PILOT.  561 

courage  could  have  been  exercised  in  a  regular 
and  well-stfpported  Navy,  and  had  the  habits  of  his 
youth  better  qualified  him  to  have  borne,  meekly, 
the  honours  he  acquired  in  his  age,  he  would  have 
left  behind  him  no  name  in  its  lists  that  would 
have  descended  to  the  latest  posterity  of  his  adopt 
ed  countrymen  with  greater  renown !" 

"  Why,  Griffith,"  exclaimed  Cecilia,  in  a  little 
surprise,  "you  are  zealous  in  his  cause!  Who 
was  he?" 

"  A  man  who  held  a  promise  of  secrecy  while 
living,  which  is  not  at  all  released  by  his  death. 
It  is  enough  to  know,  that  he  was  greatly  instru 
mental  in  procuring  our  sudden  union,  and  that 
our  happiness  might  have  been  wrecked  in  the 
voyage  of  life  had  we  not  met  the  unknown  pilot 
of  the  German  Ocean." 

Perceiving  her  husband  to  rise,  and  carefully 
collect  the  papers  in  a  bundle,  before  he  left  the 
room,  Cecilia  made  no  further  remark  at  the  time 
nor  was  the  subject  ever  revived  between  them. 


THE  ENP. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


